Abstract

FEMENIA, Francisco J. et al. Complications of permanent pacemaker: Event operator dependent? Analysis of 743 consecutive patients. Arch. Cardiol. Méx. [online]. 2010, vol.80, n.2, pp.95-99. ISSN 1665-1731.

The complications of permanent pacemaker implant, are found among 6%-9% of patients. Different factors are related. Objectives: We evaluated the complications related with pacemaker implants and which are the independent risk factors associated with them. Methods: Descriptive analysis, type case-controls, retrospective and prospective, including 743 consecutive patients, between January 2007 and April 2008. Results: Age: 73.83 ± 12 years, 63.9% male. 43% of the patients had some degree of structural cardiopathy. There were no deaths related to pacemaker implants. Implant procedure-related complications were observed in 57 patients (7.67%), requiring a surgical intervention in 34 patients (4.57%). The most serious complications included one device-related infective endocarditis (0.13%), the entire device system was extracted, and one pneumothorax following subclavian vein puncture with insertion of a chest tube. In the multivariate analysis, low level of operator experience and preimplant heart failure were independent predictors for complications. Conclusions: In this consecutive series of patients with permanent pacemaker implant, there was a low rate of complications, similar to the reported international series. A low level of operator experience and preimplant heart failure were related.

Keywords : Pacemakers; Complications; Electrical stimulation; Argentina.