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Implantable Defibrillator/HIV Sep 20, 2009 My son has HIV. He had a cardiac arrest 8 months ago and due to loss of oxygen to brain he suffers brain damage problems. He has a heart ejection fraction of 35%, and 4 stents. His cardialogist has recommended an implantable defibrilltor. His primary doctor/Internal Medicine is opposed to the implantation of ICD for some reason re. HIV. What special risks for HIV patients would the ICD impose? |
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| Response from Dr. Holodniy
 There is no contraindication in HIV infected patients to having an ICD placed. I have a couple of patients with these and they are doing fine and they are life saving. It is likely his doctor is concerned that there might be a greater risk of infection because of having an implanted device. But I am not aware of any data that confirms that. It is interesting that he had stents placed, which would also pose the same kind of risk. | |||||||||
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