1.
Ann Thorac Surg
; 67(2): 554-5, 1999 Feb.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10197696
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.