Outcome of Infected Cardiac Device Re-implantation in Erbil Cardiac Center-Iraq

Background & Objectives: Cardiac electronic devices have been in clinical practice for more than 6 decades. Infection is not uncommon with these devices due to their scarcity and exorbitant cost which makes them inaccessible to a significant number of patients. Therefore, the only method to source them is to reimplant used devices. The problem of possible infection as result of reusing these devices has not been previously investigated in Iraq. The objective of the current study was to find the outcomes of the re-implanted infected device. Methods: Ten patients with infected boxes (complete or partial dehiscence with or without pus discharge) were included in this case-series study, from January 2016 to January 2023 in Erbil cardiac center, All the patients were well informed that their re-sterilized devices will be re-implanted, and verbal informed consents were obtained from all patients. Results: Ten procedures for ten patients with permanent pacemaker infected boxes had been done. The patients’ age ranged from 1.5 to 77 years, and all of them were males. Nine infections had been cured and followed for six months to 7 years. One patient died after 12 months (1.5 years old child with severe heart failure). Conclusion: Re-implantation of infected box after sterilization had high success rate.