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Published on: August 8, 2025
[Perioperative complications during transvenous pacemaker and defibrillator implantation]
Victoria Johnson1, Stefan Winter2, Leon Iden3
1Universitäres Herz- und Gefäßzentrum, Medizinische Klnik III, Universitätsmedizin Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596, Frankfurt/Main, Deutschland. victoria.johnson@herz-frankfurt.de.
Insights
Perioperative complications after cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation, ranging from 2-11%, can impact patient outcomes. This review details CIED complications and strategies for prevention and management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Devices
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) are crucial for managing cardiac conditions.
- Despite advancements, perioperative complications remain a significant concern, affecting 2-11% of transvenous CIED implantations.
- These complications can negatively impact patient prognosis and increase healthcare costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a structured overview of significant perioperative complications associated with CIED implantation.
- To discuss practical strategies for the prevention, early detection, and management of these complications.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on perioperative complications of CIED implantation.
- Structured analysis of reported complication types and their incidence.
- Synthesis of evidence-based preventive and management strategies.
Main Results:
- Key complications include vascular injuries, thrombosis, pneumothorax, hemothorax, lead perforation, tricuspid valve dysfunction, lead dislodgement, and infections.
- Unrecognized malposition of right ventricular leads in the left ventricle is a critical concern.
- Pocket hematomas and device-related infections are also frequently reported.
Conclusions:
- Meticulous procedural planning and adherence to preventive measures are essential for improving safety and outcomes.
- Early detection and appropriate management are crucial for mitigating the impact of CIED-related complications.
- Given increasing procedure numbers and patient complexity, focus on safety is paramount.
Abstract:
Despite major advances in cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and implantation techniques, perioperative complications remain clinically relevant. Reported rates of relevant complications after transvenous CIED implantation range from 2 to 11% and may adversely affect patient outcomes. Major complications include access-related vascular injuries, venous thrombosis, pneumothorax and hemothorax, and cardiac complications such as lead perforation or tricuspid valve dysfunction, lead dislodgement, unrecognized malposition of the right ventricular lead in the left ventricle, arrhythmias, pocket hematoma, and device-related infections. This article provides a structured overview of the most relevant perioperative complications associated with CIED implantation. Practical strategies for prevention, early detection, and appropriate management of these complications are also discussed. Given the increasing number of procedures, the growing complexity of device systems, and the rising proportion of multimorbid patients, meticulous procedural planning and strict adherence to preventive measures are essential to improve safety and clinical outcomes.
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