Noninvasive tissue adhesive for cardiac implantable electronic device pocket closure: the TAPE pilot study.

Purpose: Device infection is a serious complication of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED). Ensuring complete pocket closure can be time consuming, but remains vital to prevent infection. The Zip® Surgical Skin Closure (ZIP) is a noninvasive adhesive device applied to the skin as an alternative to subcuticular sutures for skin closure.

Third-degree burns associated with transcutaneous pacing.

A 69-year-old severely obese diabetic woman developed nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea which caused multiple metabolic alterations leading to hypotension and bradycardia due to slow atrioventricular junctional rhythm. Transcutaneous pacing (TCP) was initiated and maintained until the underlying heart rate and blood pressure normalised. TCP gel pads were kept in place prophylactically after pacing was terminated.

Dabigatran: a new anticoagulant for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Ischemic stroke is arguably the most feared complication of atrial fibrillation. While warfarin has been the most effective pharmacologic treatment for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, several limitations have led to its underutilization. Recently, dabigatran (Pradaxa), a new oral anticoagulant with several potential advantages over warfarin (Coumadin), became available for use in the United States for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patient with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.