Vidal Essebag1, Atul Verma2, Jeff S Healey3, Andrew D Krahn4, Eli Kalfon5, Benoit Coutu6, Felix Ayala-Paredes7, Anthony S Tang8, John Sapp9, Marcio Sturmer10, Arieh Keren11, George A Wells11, David H Birnie11. 1. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: vidal.essebag@mcgill.ca. 2. Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. 3. Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. 4. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 5. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Cardiology, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel. 6. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Centre Hospitalier Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 7. Centre Hospitalier Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. 8. University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 9. Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. 10. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 11. University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The BRUISE CONTROL trial (Bridge or Continue Coumadin for Device Surgery Randomized Controlled Trial) demonstrated that a strategy of continued warfarin during cardiac implantable electronic device surgery was safe and reduced the incidence of clinically significant pocket hematoma (CSH). CSH was defined as a post-procedure hematoma requiring further surgery and/or resulting in prolongation of hospitalization of at least 24 h, and/or requiring interruption of anticoagulation. Previous studies have inconsistently associated hematoma with the subsequent development of device infection; reasons include the retrospective nature of many studies, lack of endpoint adjudication, and differing subjective definitions of hematoma. OBJECTIVES: The BRUISE CONTROL INFECTION (Bridge or Continue Coumadin for Device Surgery Randomized Controlled Trial Extended Follow-Up for Infection) prospectively examined the association between CSH and subsequent device infection. METHODS: The study included 659 patients with a primary outcome of device-related infection requiring hospitalization, defined as 1 or more of the following: pocket infection; endocarditis; and bloodstream infection. Outcomes were verified by a blinded adjudication committee. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify predictors of infection. RESULTS: The overall 1-year device-related infection rate was 2.4% (16 of 659). Infection occurred in 11% of patients (7 of 66) with previous CSH and in 1.5% (9 of 593) without CSH. CSH was the only independent predictor and was associated with a >7-fold increased risk of infection (hazard ratio: 7.7; 95% confidence interval: 2.9 to 20.5; p < 0.0001). Empiric antibiotics upon development of hematoma did not reduce long-term infection risk. CONCLUSIONS:CSH is associated with a significantly increased risk of infection requiring hospitalization within 1 year following cardiac implantable electronic device surgery. Strategies aimed at reducing hematomas may decrease the long-term risk of infection. (Bridge or Continue Coumadin for Device Surgery Randomized Controlled Trial [BRUISE CONTROL]; NCT00800137).
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The BRUISE CONTROL trial (Bridge or Continue Coumadin for Device Surgery Randomized Controlled Trial) demonstrated that a strategy of continued warfarin during cardiac implantable electronic device surgery was safe and reduced the incidence of clinically significant pocket hematoma (CSH). CSH was defined as a post-procedure hematoma requiring further surgery and/or resulting in prolongation of hospitalization of at least 24 h, and/or requiring interruption of anticoagulation. Previous studies have inconsistently associated hematoma with the subsequent development of device infection; reasons include the retrospective nature of many studies, lack of endpoint adjudication, and differing subjective definitions of hematoma. OBJECTIVES: The BRUISE CONTROL INFECTION (Bridge or Continue Coumadin for Device Surgery Randomized Controlled Trial Extended Follow-Up for Infection) prospectively examined the association between CSH and subsequent device infection. METHODS: The study included 659 patients with a primary outcome of device-related infection requiring hospitalization, defined as 1 or more of the following: pocket infection; endocarditis; and bloodstream infection. Outcomes were verified by a blinded adjudication committee. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify predictors of infection. RESULTS: The overall 1-year device-related infection rate was 2.4% (16 of 659). Infection occurred in 11% of patients (7 of 66) with previous CSH and in 1.5% (9 of 593) without CSH. CSH was the only independent predictor and was associated with a >7-fold increased risk of infection (hazard ratio: 7.7; 95% confidence interval: 2.9 to 20.5; p < 0.0001). Empiric antibiotics upon development of hematoma did not reduce long-term infection risk. CONCLUSIONS:CSH is associated with a significantly increased risk of infection requiring hospitalization within 1 year following cardiac implantable electronic device surgery. Strategies aimed at reducing hematomas may decrease the long-term risk of infection. (Bridge or Continue Coumadin for Device Surgery Randomized Controlled Trial [BRUISE CONTROL]; NCT00800137).