Surgical complications of implanting pacemakers

An analysis of the complications of implanting pacemakers at St George's Hospital between 1967 and 1973 highlights the difficulties of implanting foreign bodies. During this 7 years 1543 pacemakers were implanted in 779 adults. In 91 patients there were 118 implants with surgical complications, most of them due to a pressure necrosis or local infection; 3 septicaemias occurred. The various complications are classified and related to technique of implantation. Methods of management of the complications are presented. As an Appendix the operative techniques of first and subsequent implantations are outlined.