[Multiprogrammable pacemakers. Complications. Nursing care].

Abstract

This paper deals with the study of 927 patients of both sexes, with multiprogramable pacemakers implanted during 1987-1988 period, at the "Comandante Manuel Fajardo" Teaching Hospital and the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery. Complications accounted for 14.9% and the most frequent were, in decreasing order, as follows: sepsis of the pocket (46.7%), hematoma of the pocket, increased threshold and, in a lower percentage, aseptic necrosis (5.7%). Emphasis is made in the role of the nurse in front of a patient with pacemaker and of the different complications presented.