[Treatment of an infection from an intravenous cardiac stimulation lead with extracorporeal circulation]. / Tratamiento de la infección del cable de estimulación cardíaca intravenoso mediante circulación extracorpórea.

The infection of a transvenous lead implanted for cardiac stimulation is a rare but serious complication, because it can lead to the development of septicemia, tricuspid endocarditis, recurrent pulmonary emboli or thrombus formation in right cardiac chambers. The most efficient treatment is the removal of the entire pacing system (generator and lead). We describe our experience with the removal of infected leads with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. Indications of this technique and its advantages and disadvantages over the percutaneous extraction methods are discussed. A review of the literature is also presented.

[Valve repair in tricuspid endocarditis in the drug addict. Apropos a case]. / Reparación valvular en la endocarditis tricúspide del drogadicto. A propósito de un caso.

Valve replacement, valvulectomy and valve repair are the alternatives for the surgical treatment of intractable tricuspid valve endocarditis. We present the case of a 24-year-old, HIV-positive Caucasian female, intravenous drug addict, with intractable tricuspid valve endocarditis, that was successfully treated with tricuspid valve repair. Advantages and major drawbacks of the different techniques are discussed and the appropriate literature is reviewed.