The Effects of Envelopes on Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Pocket Healing

Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), such as pacemakers and defibrillators, can be used to manage irregular heart rates and treat patients with heart failure. However, the body’s healing response to implantation of these devices can sometimes result in complications such as inflammation. When inflammation occurs, a fibrous pocket can form, disrupting the healing process and causing problems for future cardiac interventions. In this preclinical study, scientists assessed pocket healing using CIED implantation in an ovine model, with and without the use of various antibacterial envelopes: T2 (TYRX), NG (TYRX), or ECM (CanGaroo). An antibacterial envelope surrounds the CIED in the body to help prevent infections. Scientists implanted 110 CIEDs in sheep, and at different timepoints, analyzed the removed tissue. They found that the TYRX pockets showed less inflammation, faster provisional matrix formulation, faster absorption, and thinner capsules, compared with ECM. In addition to reducing inflammation, these envelopes promoted a well-healed pocket, which may benefit patients in the future.

Read the paper here, published in the journal Heart Rhythm. CVPath’s Renu Virmani and Aloke Finn were both contributing authors.