Pacemaker endocarditis during 18 years in Göteborg.

• Pacemaker endocarditis is a rare but serious complication. Few studies addressing its treatment have been published. Clinical characteristics and outcome were retrospectively studied in 38 patients with 44 episodes of pacemaker infective endocarditis (PMIE) in Göteborg, during 1984-2001. The male/female ratio of episodes was 27/17 and the mean age 69 y. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed vegetation in 4/22 (18%) episodes and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 22/33 (67%). Staphylococci were isolated in 66% of blood cultures. The pacemaker system (PS) was removed in 28 episodes and in 18 of these there were no signs of reinfection at follow-up. In 16 episodes the PS was not removed, and in 13 of these, signs of infection were found at follow-up. Thus, the present study of PMIE showed staphylococci to be predominant causative agents and demonstrated a high diagnostic sensitivity of TEE. According to our results, PM removal rather than conservative treatment should be considered in all cases.

Nyckelord

Adult

Age Distribution

Aged

Aged

80 and over

Anti-Bacterial Agents

therapeutic use

Device Removal

Endocarditis

Bacterial

diagnosis

epidemiology

etiology

therapy

Female

Follow-Up Studies

Humans

Incidence

Male

Middle Aged

Pacemaker

Artificial

adverse effects

Prosthesis-Related Infections

diagnosis

epidemiology

therapy

Retrospective Studies

Risk Assessment

Severity of Illness Index

Sex Distribution

Sweden

epidemiology

Treatment Outcome

Urban Population

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)