Reimplantation of an infected, abdominally implanted defibrillator in the subpectoral region

This report regards a 55-year-old patient with an abdominally implanted, nonthoracotomy, cardioverter defibrillator system (Medtronic PCD 7217B) due to recurrent ventricular tachycardia and survived sudden cardiac death. Fifteen months after defibrillator implantation clinical signs of system infection occurred. The defibrillator and the two leads (Medtronic 6963 and 6966) were removed and treatment with intravenous antibiotic therapy was started. Thereafter the original resterilized ICD was re-implanted in a right subpectoral position with new right ventricular- and superior vena cava leads. This report shows that reuse of the relatively large Medtronic PCD 7217B with a new transvenous lead system in a retropectoral location is feasible and economically beneficial with regard to the high device cost.