HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Grossi, E. A. Articles by Colvin, S. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Grossi, E. A. Articles by Colvin, S. B.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 56, 156-157, Copyright © 1993 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

ARTICLES

Direct-current injury from external pacemaker results in tissue electrolysis [published erratum appears in Ann Thorac Surg 1994 Apr;57(4):1053]

EA Grossi, MA Parish, MR Kralik, LR Glassman, RA Esposito, GH Ribakove, AC Galloway and SB Colvin
Department of Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York 10016.

In two patients undergoing open heart operations, electrochemical burns developed at the sites of connection to an external pacing system. Investigation revealed that failure of the pacing generator caused a small, continuous, direct current to pass through the patients, resulting in electrolysis at the sites of contact with the pacing and grounding wires. This electrolytic reaction was recreated in a mock pacing system and resulted in tissue injury and disintegration of the pacing wire. Guidelines to help recognize and prevent this complication are presented.