Treatment of cardiac implantable electronic device endocarditis in pacemaker-dependent patients utilizing a percutaneous aspiration system.

ABSTRACT

With the increasing use of cardiac implantable electronic devices, the number of patients with cardiac implantable electronic device-related endocarditis is also rising. The treatment of this type of endocarditis is a challenging clinical task, in particular if device removal is required in patients who are pacemaker dependent. This video tutorial describes a treatment strategy for cardiac implantable electronic device-related endocarditis involving the tricuspid valve in pacemaker-dependent patients. The proposed treatment strategy consists of implanting an epicardial pacemaker via a minimally invasive subxiphoid approach, percutaneous aspiration of tricuspid valve vegetations and complete transvenous explantation of the infected cardiac implantable electronic device system using advanced lead extraction tools.