Local hemostatic drug application for prophylaxis of pacemaker pocket hematoma

BACKGROUND: Prevention of pacemaker pocket hematoma is an urgent problem of modern cardiovascular surgery. A method of prevention of hematomas may be application of local hemostatic agents. One of such means is incomplete silver salt of polyacrylic acid, registered in the Russian Federation as a medical product under the trade name “Hemoblock”. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of partial silver salt of polyacrylic acid (Hemoblock®) as a hemostatic drug for prophylaxis of pacemaker (PM) pocket hematoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 29 patients (18 men) with average age of 72.8 ± 9.8 years and indications for PM implantation. The patients were divided into 2 groups, partial silver salt of polyacrylic acid was used during the PM implantation in group A, 0.9% NaCl solution was used in group B. Anticoagulant therapy was not cancelled. In the postoperative period, patients underwent a daily examination by a surgeon, on the 3th–5th day — an ultrasound of soft tissues in the area of the PM pocket to diagnose hemorrhagic complications. After 1 month, a control examination of the postoperative wound and an assessment of the PM function were performed. RESULTS: In 1 (6.3%) patient in group B, a PM pocket hematoma was found which required drainage in the dressing room and increased the period of hospitalization after surgery to 7 days. Soft tissue imbibition with blood was observed in 9 (56.3%) group B patients. No PM pocket hematomas and imbibition of soft tissues were observed in group A. PM implantation with uninterrupted anticoagulant therapy without the use of hemostatic agents increases the risk of soft tissue imbibition with blood by 2.3 times (p = 0.001, r = 0.605, RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–4). Age, gender, body mass index, body surface area, left ventricular ejection fraction, type of anticoagulation therapy, indication for PM implantation, type of PM, and the peculiarities of the operation did not influence the risk of development of PM pocket hematoma or soft tissue imbibition with blood (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of a partial silver salt of polyacrylic acid (Hemoblock®) can reduce the risk of development of hematomas and soft tissue imbibition with blood in the area of the pacemaker pocket and does not lead to the development of infectious complications and allergic reactions.