Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
Translational Rabbit Model of Chronic Cardiac Pacing
Published on: January 6, 2023
Pacemaker implantation in small hospitals: complication rates comparable to larger centres
Bjørn Haug1, Kjærsti Kjelsberg, Knut Tore Lappegård
1Department of Internal Medicine, Helgelandssykehuset, Sandnessjøen, N-8800 Sandnessjøen, Norway. bjornhaug@online.no
Aims:
Some countries have a demography that makes it necessary to maintain relatively small pacemaker centres. We wanted to assess the quality of pacemaker surgery in two such hospitals.
Methods And Results:
Through patient records we gathered information on ∼535 consecutive primary pacemaker implantations in two small pacemaker centres with 30 and 80 annual operations, respectively. All patients were followed for 3 years. All complications documented in the patient records were registered. Furthermore, we performed a non-systematic literature search comparing our data with reports from major centres published over the last 10 years.We found 72 complications in 64 (12.0%) of the patients, the most common being bleeding, lead failure, and pneumothorax. If minor bleedings without any consequences for the patients are excluded, the number of complications was 46 in 40 patients (7.5%). We had to reoperate on 5.2% of the patients. There was no statistically significant difference in complication rates between the two hospitals. Education candidates generated statistically significant more complications than experienced doctors (13.7 vs. 7.1%, P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
There are no generally accepted norms of complication rates in pacemaker surgery. However, we found no indications that our centres have a rate of complications that is unacceptably high.
Insights
Pacemaker surgery in small centers had a 7.5% complication rate, comparable to larger centers. Higher complication rates were seen with less experienced doctors performing pacemaker implantations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Device Technology
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Some countries require small pacemaker centers due to demographic factors.
- Assessing the quality of pacemaker surgery in these specialized centers is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the quality and complication rates of pacemaker surgery in two small pacemaker centers.
- To compare outcomes with data from larger centers.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of approximately 535 primary pacemaker implantations.
- Data collection on complications over a 3-year follow-up period.
- Non-systematic literature search for comparison with major centers.
Main Results:
- A total of 7.5% of patients experienced complications (excluding minor bleeding).
- Reoperation rate was 5.2%.
- Higher complication rates (13.7% vs. 7.1%) were observed with less experienced doctors.
Conclusions:
- Small pacemaker centers can achieve acceptable complication rates.
- No significant difference in complication rates between the two small centers.
- Training and experience of physicians impact surgical outcomes.
