Treatment of infected left ventricular assist device using antibiotic-impregnated beads

Ann Thorac Surg. 1999 Feb;67(2):554-5. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(98)01243-0.

Abstract

There is no well-established therapy for treating infections of heart-assist or artificial heart devices, a serious problem with life-threatening consequences. We used a promising new approach in which antibiotic-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate beads were placed around an implanted left ventricular assist device to control an external blood pump infection in a bridge-to-transplant patient. In this case report, we describe the potential of antimicrobial-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate beads for in situ control of infections involving external surfaces of cardiovascular devices.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Implants
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / administration & dosage
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Heart-Assist Devices*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / surgery*
  • Reoperation
  • Staphylococcal Infections / surgery*
  • Staphylococcus epidermidis*
  • Tobramycin / administration & dosage*
  • Vancomycin / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Drug Implants
  • Vancomycin
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate
  • Tobramycin