Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2010 Aug;43(4):421-423.

Removal of an Infected Permanent Pacemaker through a Right Atriotomy without Cardiopulmonary Bypass Via a Right Thoracotomy

• Choi KH
• Yoon YC
• Park KT
• Lee YH
• Hwang YH
• Cho KH

Abstract

A 52-year-old female presented with pain and swelling owing to recurrent inflammation on a generator pocket. She had undergone a permanent pacemaker implantation (DDD type) 7 years previously. We planned to insert a new pacemaker after removal of the previous generator and wires through a surgical approach. However, she had a history of the left modified radical mastectomy (MRM) with radiation therapy for breast cancer. For this patient, it would be difficult to care for the postoperative wound if we approached via the median sternotomy. Therefore, we decided to use a right atrial approach via a right thoracotomy. We removed the previous pacing wires through an atriotomy and inserted a new pacemaker using epicardial pacing leads without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Keyword

Pacemaker; Infection; Thoracotomy

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms
Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Female
Humans
Inflammation
Mastectomy, Modified Radical
Middle Aged
Sternotomy
Thoracotomy