THURSDAY, Aug. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of complications for single- and dual-chamber transvenous pacemakers (TVPs) is considerable, reaching about 15 and 16 percent, respectively, by three years, with high associated costs, according to research published online Aug. 30 in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology.
Daniel J. Cantillon, M.D., from the Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues retrospectively characterized TVP complications and associated health care costs for patients implanted with dual- and single-chamber TVPs between April 2010 and March 2014.
The researchers found that acute complications occurred in 7.7 percent of single- and 9.1 percent of dual-chamber implants among 72,701 TVP implants with 1.5 ± 1.1 years of follow-up; long-term complications occurred in 6.4 and 5.9 percent, respectively. The net three-year event rates were about 15 and 16 percent, respectively. Considerable incidence and incremental costs of complications were seen. Thoracic trauma (3.71 percent; $70,114), leads requiring revision (3.51 percent; $9,296), and infection (1.15 percent; $80,247) were the most common acute complications. Long-term complications were related to leads, infection, and pocket (2.84, 2.42, and 0.96 percent, respectively).
"Claims data suggest TVP complications are more common than previously reported, affecting nearly one in six patients by three years and contributing to considerable incremental U.S. health care cost," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
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