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Infected Pacemaker Replaced With Leadless Device, Helping Patient

Infected Pacemaker Replaced With Leadless Device, Helping Patient
At 63, she needed a pacemaker, which got infected. What saved her? · indianexpress.com

A 63-year-old woman needed a pacemaker because her heart was beating too slowly and irregularly.

The first pacemaker became infected and the wound would not heal.

Doctors removed the device and its wires to control the infection.

Tests found two types of bacteria called Acinetobacter and Enterobacter.

Diabetes and steroid treatment made healing more difficult for her.

Doctors needed to give her heart pacing support again, but wanted to avoid making another pocket in her chest.

They placed a small leadless pacemaker directly inside her heart through a vein in her leg.

She recovered well, walked about six hours later and went home the next day.

Key facts

Patient
63-year-old woman from Jammu
Original condition
Complete heart block
Infection
Pacemaker pocket infection involving Acinetobacter and Enterobacter
Risk factors
Poorly controlled diabetes, steroid-treated rheumatoid arthritis and previous left foot amputation for diabetic gangrene
Treatment
Removal of the pacemaker and both leads
Replacement
Dual-chamber AVEIR leadless pacemaker
Recovery
Mobile approximately six hours after implantation and discharged the following day

Sources

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