Article Type : Case Reports
Authors : Chu MF, Lam UP, Mok TM, Ip MF, Tam WC, and Evora M
Keywords : lead erosion; subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; infection
Without intra-cardiac involvement, the
management of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD)
related complication differs from those of traditional transvenous ICD. Herein,
we presented one rare case with S-ICD lead erosion at the xiphoid without
systemic bloodstream infection. We performed the conservative surgical
debridement without complete device removal. Moreover, lead erosion at the
xiphoid is one rare but serious complication. This may be caused by extreme
superficial lead placement during implantation. To avoid this complication,
suturing the lead with a sleeve to the submuscular layer during the implantation
may be necessary to ensure adequate tissue coverage, especially in slim
individuals.
Patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death benefit
from ICD therapy. Due to extra-thoracic position of the S-ICD lead, the trans
venous lead related complication is significantly reduced in S-ICD patents [1].
Most of S-ICD complications were associated with generator pocket, including
poor healing and localized infection [2]. However, S-ICD lead erosion at the
xiphoid is a serious complication that has rarely been reported. This
complication may arise from implantation technique and mechanical trauma. Complete
device removal is the gold standard treatment in patients with trans venous ICD
lead erosion [3]. However, owing to the lower risk of blood-borne infection in
patients with S-ICD, the treatment option for S-ICD lead erosion may be
different from trans venous lead erosion. Herein, we demonstrated a reasonable
and effective treatment strategy for S-ICD lead erosion without systemic
infection.
This 17-year-old male patient suffered from
out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and ventricular fibrillation during the
marathon, successful recovery of spontaneous circulation after CPCR, and
defibrillation. He denied any family history of sudden death. Echocardiography
and electrophysiological study with flecainide challenge test were
unremarkable, cardiac MRI showed absence of structural abnormalities or
arrhythmic scar formation. Under the impression of idiopathic ventricular
fibrillation, He was indicated for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
for secondary prevention. Finally, subcutaneous implantable
cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) implantation was performed with 2 incision
implant technique without any complication. Two incision wounds were healed as
well as appropriate S-ICD function during follow-up. About 5 months after the
procedure, the patient complained of subcostal wound swelling with exudative
discharge The S-ICD lead was partially exposed at the subcostal region. At that
time, we haven’t documented any interrogated record regarding the sensing
failure and inappropriate shock. Although the lead was partially exposed, the
whole S-ICD system was not removed immediately. Furthermore, we considered the
empirical antibiotics and conservative treatment because there was no systemic
inflammatory response in blood examination and exudative discharge did not
cultivate any organism. However, after 6 weeks of wound care, the wound was not
healed well finally, we performed the surgical debridement of necrotic tissue
and surgical reposition of the S-ICD lead into the intermuscular layer at the
xiphoid region. After the debridement, chest x ray showed appropriate position
of the lead without displacement the wound at the xiphoid was healed well. The
patient was discharged after full course antibiotics. Follow-up S-ICD
interrogation didn’t show any vector alternation or sensing abnormalities. No
inappropriate shock was delivered from the S-ICD system (Figure 1).
Figure 1:
(A) Wound swelling with exudative discharge
at xiphoid region (B) Partial erosion of S-ICD lead and poor wound dehiscence
(C) S-ICD lead at fascial layer before debridement (D) After surgical
debridement of necrotic tissue, reposition part of the S-ICD lead into the
intermuscular layer at xiphoid region (E) Chest x ray showed appropriate
position of S-ICD lead (F) the wound was healed well eventually
S-ICD implantation is one therapeutic option for
patients with ICD indication, in whom without bradycardia or ventricular
tachycardia required pacing. The S-ICD system has been reported to have
significantly lower lead-related complication rates compared with the trans
venous ICD [4]. The recommendation of device erosion and pocket infection
management for trans venous ICD were entire system removal because of the
concern of bacteremia and infective endocarditis [3]. However, based on the
unnecessity of trans venous lead, the incidence of device-related bacteremia
and endocarditis is significantly decreased in the S-ICD population [5].
Previous cohort studies showed that neither infective endocarditis nor
blood-borne infection was observed in the S-ICD population during follow-up
[1]. Partial lead erosion of S-ICD without systemic infection can be managed
conservatively without entire device removal. A similar study reported that minimal
lead erosion can be managed conservatively with a course of antibiotics or
surgical approach [6]. This conservative strategy may be less invasive and more
reasonable than those with entire device removal. S-ICD lead erosion at the xiphoid is a rare
but serious complication that may be related to the implantation process,
mechanical stress and hypertrophic scar formation. In some slim patients, the
subcutaneous fat tissue at the xiphoid may be too thin which may not provide
adequate protection of the S-ICD lead. The superficial fat tissue at the
xiphoid is damaged after mechanical trauma or scratching hypertrophic scar
tissue, thus the lead may be eroded. To avoid and manage this complication, we
can consider to fixate part of S-ICD lead with a sleeve to the sub muscular
layer (sternal is muscle), rather than the superficial fascia layer. This case
report demonstrated successful management of S-ICD lead erosion without
systemic infection. Localized surgical debridement following embedding the lead
into deeper muscle layer and closure with adjacent skin flap was done without
alternation of vectors and sensing threshold. A similar interventional approach
was also used for neurological device erosion. Reconstructive surgery with skin
flap for hardware-related erosion had been successfully managed without entire
device removal [7]. Our case showed a reasonable treatment option of S-ICD lead
erosion without entire system removal and without alternating the function of
S-ICD.
S-ICD lead erosion at the xiphoid can be treated
conservatively without entire device removal. To avoid this complication, we
may fixate the sleeve with part of S-ICD lead to the sub muscular layer during
implantation, especially in some slim patients.
All procedures performed in studies involving human
participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution
or practice at which the studies were conducted.