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Betadyne Poisoning?
This is probably a weird question for the ages!
Last week, I had a pacemaker removed because the wound was irritated. The pacemaker was replaced, the pacemaker pocket in the doctor's words "washed out" and the incision closed with steri strips.
A few days later, my incision started leaking a golden liquid that I immediately recognized as Betadine or similar.
About a week after the surgery, I'm sick. I'm running a low fever, headache, and feel horrible. Never felt that way in my 59 years. I have a metallic taste in my mouth that I at first attributed to antibiotics I am taking.
My question is, if a large quantity of Betadine or similar surgical antiseptic wash containing iodine was flooded in my pacemaker pocket, could enough iodine be absorbed through raw tissues to poison me?
If still sick in the AM, I'll see the doc on this one. But I would like to know ASAP it this sounds like I could be poisoned.
Many thanks,,,
Last week, I had a pacemaker removed because the wound was irritated. The pacemaker was replaced, the pacemaker pocket in the doctor's words "washed out" and the incision closed with steri strips.
A few days later, my incision started leaking a golden liquid that I immediately recognized as Betadine or similar.
About a week after the surgery, I'm sick. I'm running a low fever, headache, and feel horrible. Never felt that way in my 59 years. I have a metallic taste in my mouth that I at first attributed to antibiotics I am taking.
My question is, if a large quantity of Betadine or similar surgical antiseptic wash containing iodine was flooded in my pacemaker pocket, could enough iodine be absorbed through raw tissues to poison me?
If still sick in the AM, I'll see the doc on this one. But I would like to know ASAP it this sounds like I could be poisoned.
Many thanks,,,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
I agree you need to be cautious since you have a history of pace maker rejection. I think up till now you had implanted pacemakers. There are external pacemakers too. Please discuss this with your cardiologist, if you are an ideal candidate for external pacemaker of not. In case you can be hooked to an external pacemaker, then your problems are solved. In case you cannot be then you need to sit down with your cardiologist and discuss the pacemakers available, all their pros and cons and approach the companies for details research etc. It is a trick situation and I am sure only your cardiologist has the answer. With your history I am positive he will be extra cautious.
Please let me know if there is any thing else. All the best!
I agree you need to be cautious since you have a history of pace maker rejection. I think up till now you had implanted pacemakers. There are external pacemakers too. Please discuss this with your cardiologist, if you are an ideal candidate for external pacemaker of not. In case you can be hooked to an external pacemaker, then your problems are solved. In case you cannot be then you need to sit down with your cardiologist and discuss the pacemakers available, all their pros and cons and approach the companies for details research etc. It is a trick situation and I am sure only your cardiologist has the answer. With your history I am positive he will be extra cautious.
Please let me know if there is any thing else. All the best!
Went back in hospital, had PM removed last week. Sitting home without PM at this time, nursing a raw gaping wound under my right clavicle, waiting for my original site under left clavicle to finish healing. My heart isn't happy, to say the least.
I told my doc I want to please make changes to prevent the same thing from happening for the 4th time. He agreed changes should be made.
Bacterial cultures were always negative, as were recent allergy tests. We still don't know if the "rejections" were caused by low level bacterial colonization or allergic reaction to the PM materials. I asked him if we could treat the next implant as though both were the cause. He said that would be a possibility, and would look into it.
Tentatively, plans are to use another brand of PM, I hope either coated or pouched in something more hypoallergenic and perhaps bactericidal. Surgery will be done by a cardiac surgeon in the OR rather than a cath lab. Supposedly, more sterile conditions can be maintained in the OR.
My question is, based on my history of "rejecting" previous PM implants, do you think that's strong enough measures? Or should more precision testing for bacteria and allergies be done?
In addition, I want to tell my docs to get with all the PM manufacturers, and ask for case histories. Whichever PM manufacturer has the best knowledge and safeguards against colonization and allergic reaction should be used. But how do I ask them without appearing to know too much, causing "lawsuit paralysis"? I would never sue anyone who is trying to help me. Should I tell them directly to reassure them, or would that be a wet blanket?
Thanks,,,
I told my doc I want to please make changes to prevent the same thing from happening for the 4th time. He agreed changes should be made.
Bacterial cultures were always negative, as were recent allergy tests. We still don't know if the "rejections" were caused by low level bacterial colonization or allergic reaction to the PM materials. I asked him if we could treat the next implant as though both were the cause. He said that would be a possibility, and would look into it.
Tentatively, plans are to use another brand of PM, I hope either coated or pouched in something more hypoallergenic and perhaps bactericidal. Surgery will be done by a cardiac surgeon in the OR rather than a cath lab. Supposedly, more sterile conditions can be maintained in the OR.
My question is, based on my history of "rejecting" previous PM implants, do you think that's strong enough measures? Or should more precision testing for bacteria and allergies be done?
In addition, I want to tell my docs to get with all the PM manufacturers, and ask for case histories. Whichever PM manufacturer has the best knowledge and safeguards against colonization and allergic reaction should be used. But how do I ask them without appearing to know too much, causing "lawsuit paralysis"? I would never sue anyone who is trying to help me. Should I tell them directly to reassure them, or would that be a wet blanket?
Thanks,,,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
I am glad infection is ruled out in the pocket, however as you now probably know, negative culture does not rule out endocarditis. Please check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocarditis
Yes surgical removal of pacemaker is the mainstay treatment in pacemaker induced endocarditis with intravenous antibiotics. http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/4/1451
Please keep us posted. All the best!
I am glad infection is ruled out in the pocket, however as you now probably know, negative culture does not rule out endocarditis. Please check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocarditis
Yes surgical removal of pacemaker is the mainstay treatment in pacemaker induced endocarditis with intravenous antibiotics. http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/4/1451
Please keep us posted. All the best!
Thank you doctor. Recent pacemaker pocket and blood cultures are negative, but my cardio doc is gravely concerened with endocarditis. When I call him this morning reporting the fever, he will almost certainly remove my pacemaker.
After I posted the above question, I found excellent case studies that show it's fairly common for pacemaker pockets to be flooded with Betadine. There is a mild concern for temporary thyroid and renal reacton, but both resolve well with time.
Thanks again. It was so nice of you to reply.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Most probably you have infection in your pacemaker pocket, where fluid is collecting. Since you have fever the chances are more that there is an infection.
However since you have metallic taste in mouth there is a possibility of betadine toxicity, which usually happens on ingestion. “Should ingestion occur, symptoms of acute poisoning are a disagreeable metallic taste, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.” Refer: http://home.intekom.com/pharm/adcock/betadn-o.html
I am glad you are seeing your doctor today. Please do not ignore it at all as both infection and toxicity could be dangerous.
Let me know what your doctor says. If you need more help, please feel free to contact. I’ll be happy to answer your queries.
Most probably you have infection in your pacemaker pocket, where fluid is collecting. Since you have fever the chances are more that there is an infection.
However since you have metallic taste in mouth there is a possibility of betadine toxicity, which usually happens on ingestion. “Should ingestion occur, symptoms of acute poisoning are a disagreeable metallic taste, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.” Refer: http://home.intekom.com/pharm/adcock/betadn-o.html
I am glad you are seeing your doctor today. Please do not ignore it at all as both infection and toxicity could be dangerous.
Let me know what your doctor says. If you need more help, please feel free to contact. I’ll be happy to answer your queries.
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