Implantación de marcapasos definitivos en programa de cirugía ambulatoria / Ambulatory pacemaker surgery

Desde 1958 se conoce lo que llamamos estimulación cardíaca crónica, inicialmente ésta se consideraba un procedimiento quirúrgico complejo para el cirujano cardiovascular y exigía hospitalización por varios días. Con el desarrollo de nuevas técnicas y de materiales, así como el surgimiento de la cirugía ambulatoria y su aplicación en la implantación de marcapasos, se abatió la estancia hospitalaria y consecuentemente los costos de este procedimiento. Desde 1986 Zegelman describe una serie de 583 casos en los cuales se colocó en forma ambulatoria un marcapaso definitivo, sin reportarse mortalidad. El objetivo del presente estudio fue valorar la eficacia y seguridad de la colocación de marcapasos definitivos en el Programa de Cirugía Ambulatoria. Se incluyeron 177 pacientes en estancia corta y 95 en estancia tradicional; la estancia hospitalaria fue 15.7±15.1 horas para el primer grupo y 238 ±188 horas para el segundo y se presentaron complicaciones en el 2.2% de los 272 pacientes. Las complicaciones fueron similares en ambos grupos y se resolvieron favorablemente, además no hubo mortalidad. Concluimos que la colocación de marcapasos definitivos en Programa de Cirugía Ambulatoria representa una opción segura para el paciente y con menor costo para la institución. Que el éxito de este programa depende del número de implantes de un centro hospitalario y de la experiencia del operador.

The chronic cardiac stimulation is know since 1958, pacemaker implant was considered a difficult procedure that was performed through cardiovascular surgery and the patient required several in hospital days. On the grounds of new surgical techniques and development of new materials for pacemakers, as well as the rise of Ambulatory Surgery and its application in pacemaker implants, the hospital stay and consequently, costs have decreased significantly. In 1986, Zegelman reported 583 patients subjected to ambulatory pacemaker surgery without mortality. The purpose of this report it to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ambulatory pacemaker surgery. One hundred seventy seven patients from an ambulatory program and 95 from a traditional program were included. Hospitalization time was 15.7±15.1 hours in the first group and 238± 188 hours for the second, prevalence of complications was 2.2% in the 272 patients. Complications for both groups were similar and were solved, without mortality. We conclude that the ambulatory pacemaker surgery is effective and safe for patients and is cheaper for hospitals. The success of this program depends on the number of implants in each hospital and the operator's experience.

Aumento da longevidade do marcapasso através de reprogramaçäo. Subutilizaçäo e benefícios / Enhancing longevity of pacemakers through reprogramming. Underutilization and cost-effectiveness

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to observe the number of pacemakers that had never been reprogrammed after implantation, and the effect of optimised output programming on estimated longevity of pulse generators in patients with pacemaker METHODS: Sixty patients with Teletronics Reflex pacemakers were evaluated in a pacemaker clinic, from the time of the beginning of its activities, in June 1998, until March 1999. Telemetry was performed during the first clinic visit, and we observed how many pulse generators retained nominal output settings of the manufactures indicating the absence of reprogramming until that date. After evaluation of the capture threshold, reprogramming of pacemakers was performed with a safety margin of 2 to 2.5:1, and we compared the estimated longevity based on battery current at the manufacturer's settings with that based on settings achieved after reprogramming. RESULTS: In 95 percent of the cases, the original programmed setting was never reprogrammed before the patients attended the pacemaker clinic. Reprogramming the pacemaker prolonged estimated pulse generator life by 19.7Ý15.6 months (35.5 percent). CONCLUSION: The majority of the pacemakers evaluated had never been reprogrammed. Estimated pulse generator longevity can be prolonged significantly, using this simple, safe, efficacious, and cost-effective procedure

La importancia de la reprogramación en la vida útil y costo de implante de los marcapasos bicamerales / The importance of adjusting parameters for the duration and cost of dual chamber pacemakers

Antecedentes: realizamos un estudio prospectivo de 236 pacientes sometidos a implante de marcapaso DDD bicameral. Los parámetros nominales de implante permiten márgenes de seguridad de estimulación más que suficientes. Las mejoras en la tecnología de marcapasos y electrodos han permitido reducir los umbrales de captura y, por lo tanto, la programación de los parámetros de salida. Dichos cambios pueden significar una reducción en el consumo de la batería a largo plazo, produciendo una mayor durabilidad del generador. Métodos y resultados: se estudió 236 pacientes consecutivos implantados con marcapasos Pacesetter DDD para determinar el impacto de la reprogramación en la durabilidad y costo del implante del marcapaso. Se excluyó a 36 pacientes, 19 murieron, 13 no tuvieron suficientes controles y 4 fueron reprogramados a modo VVI. Los 200 pacientes restantes completaron al menos 18 meses de seguimiento y se les implantó generadores capaces de medir umbrales de estimulación crónico, ancho de pulso, impedancia y energía de la batería. Comparamos la durabilidad estimada basada en la energía de la batería bajo parámetros de implante nominales, con aquella basada en los parámetros obtenidos tras la reprogramación durante el seguimiento. La estimación de durabilidad fue de 6,89 años bajo parámetros nominales y de 10,5 años bajo parámetros de programación final (p<0,001). Conclusiones: la reprogramación podría aumentar la durabilidad y reducir el costo de implante de los marcapasos. En nuestro estudio la reprogramación aumentó la durabilidad del marcapaso en 3,6 años y ocasionó una reducción promedio en sus costos de 330 dólares por año

Infección humana por trypanosoma cruzi en Chile: algunas estimaciones epidemiológicas y de los costos de la atención y tratamiento del paciente chagásico / Trypanosoma cruzi human infection in Chile: some estimates on epidemiology and care and treatment costs of the chagasic patient

According to the gathered information from the 1992 Chile census and an extensive epidemiological field study of Chagasïdisease in rural-periurban sections of the seven most northern regions where this malady is endemic, the following epidemiological outline arises: Total population in the country 13,348,401. Population in endemic regions 8,824,205 (urban 8,050,700 rural 773,505). Number of infected 142,000 (16,7 percent). Total number of cardiopathies 26,554 (18,7 percent). In considering the regime of fees for health attentions of the National Health Funds- including hospitalization, laboratory test and surgical interventions- in its minimal prices plus the value of medicaments, it is posible to produce some estimates onf the cost of attention and treatment, in U.S. dollars, of the chagasic patient. Average annual cost of a patient with chronic chagasic cardiopathy U.S.$ 439,29 to U.S.$ 584,25 If these values are multiplied by 26,554 give rise to a figure ranging from U.S.$ 11,644,906 to U.S.$ 15,514,474

Reuse of pacemaker.

Implantation of a permanent pacemaker is an expensive proposition for the poor patients of our country. Many patients on permanent pacemaker die prematurely due to diseases or conditions not related to pacemaker function. The purpose of this study was to reuse these pacemakers after thorough cleansing and proper sterilisation in other suitable patients and compare the efficiency of the reused pacemakers with that of newly implanted ones. Between April 1979 and April 1992, 642 patients implanted with reused pacemakers were studied. The study population consisted of patients ranging in age from 15-85 years and included patients of both sexes (M:F = 4:1). The mean period of follow-up was 7.5 +/- 5.6 years. Removal and reimplantation of the pulse generators was carried out after obtaining the State Government's approval, informed consent of the donors, relatives and recipients. The functional status of the pulse generators was tested by a "pacing system analyser". The clinical indications for reuse were chronic complete heart block, symptomatic bifascicular heart block, sick sinus syndrome and chronic complete heart block with congestive heart failure, in decreasing order of frequency. In terms of morbidity and mortality, the efficacy of reused pacemakers was highly comparable with that of newly implanted ones. The infection rate in cases of reuse from dead patients was comparable to that in cases of new implantation. However, pacemakers reused in the same patient showed a high rate of infection. With the aid of newer generations of antimicrobials, infection when matched with efficacy and economy (of reuse) does not seem to be a major factor against pacemaker reuse.

Experience with recycled cardiac pacemakers.

Twelve years experience with pacemaker re-use is reported. Between November 1979 and December 1991, forty two pacemakers were re-used in 42 patients after in-hospital reconditioning. There were 31 males and 11 females in the age range of 29 to 84 years (mean 59 +/- 13 years). In 29 patients, the pulse generator was explanted because of pocket infection and/or impending extrusion, and it was re-implanted at a new site after sterilization. In the remaining 13 patients pacemakers explanted from other patients were implanted because of economic reasons. All patients were regularly followed up in the pacemaker clinic for a mean duration of 34 +/- 35 months (range 6-126 months). There was one infection and one erosion after 12 and 27 months respectively. One of these units was resterilized and implanted without any recurrence of infection or erosion over a follow up of 12 months. There was no adverse reaction or pulse generator failure. Our experience suggests that the use of refurbished pacemakers is a safe and economically viable option.