Combined use of S-ICD and absorbable antibacterial envelopes: a
proof-of-concept study
Abstract
Absorbable antibacterial envelopes (AAEs) are currently recommended in
patients undergoing a transvenous ICD implantation in cases at high-risk
of infection, who are indeed now preferably implanted with a
subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD), whenever possible. Nevertheless, experiences
using a combined approach with S-ICD and AAE have not been reported,
therefore, aim of our study was to evaluate this strategy in patients at
very high-risk of infection. Sixteen patients were implanted with the
S-ICD+AAE using our combined approach, restricted to patients who would
fit our decisional flow algorithm. Despite a very high-risk, only a
single pocket infection was observed over the entire follow-up that was
managed conservatively and solved with antibiotic therapy. The
preliminary data of this proof-of-concept study show how a combined
deployment of AAE and S-ICD in selected patients at very high-risk of
infection is safe, feasible and may offer a true clinical benefit in
specific clinical settings.