Definition | Diagnosis | Treatment | Prognosis | Specialists | Comorbid Conditions | Complications | Factors Influencing Duration | Length of Disability | Return to Work | Medical Codes | Hospital Costs | References

Complications of Devices, Implants, and Grafts

Factors Influencing Duration

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Medical Codes

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Complications

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Each type of graft, implant, or device has specific complications that vary widely according to location. Potential complications of cardiac grafts such as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) include heart attack (myocardial infarction), stroke (cerebrovascular accident), hemorrhage, infection, memory and comprehension difficulties, poor concentration, and obstruction of the graft. Complications of other types of graft, such as corneal grafts, can include graft rejection, graft failure, infection, perforation, vision loss, and scarring. Complications of cardiac implants such as prosthetic heart valves include irreversible dilation of an artery due to infection (mycotic aneurysm), inflammation of the kidney (glomerulonephritis), metastatic abscesses, valve failure, endocarditis, and bleeding secondary to anticoagulants or thromboembolism. Complications of vascular implants, such as inferior vena cava filters, include migration of the filter causing obstruction of blood flow, misplacement of the filter, perforation of adjacent structures such as the duodenum or ureter, and bleeding. Other complications include blood clot formation at the insertion site and postphlebitic syndrome (lower extremity edema and skin ulcers). Complications of brain shunts include bleeding, infection, malfunction, and seizures. Complications associated with orthopedic implants, such as ankle, knee, hip, and shoulder prostheses used in joint replacement include infection, loosening of the device, dislocation, blood vessel or nerve injury, pain, and poor wound healing. Complications of a type of genitourinary implant, the urethral sling, include erosion of the urethra or vagina, loosening of sutures, infection, implant rejection, and sexual dysfunction. Some women experience complications from breast implants including pain, edema, infection, changes in skin color, lack of breast symmetry, blisters, and death of the tissue (necrosis). Also, some implants may leak, rupture, or migrate out of place. Complications of cardiac pacemakers include malfunction, under- or over- sensing, loss of capture, incorrect heart rate, poor lead position, improper mode, generator failure, elevated heart rate, and poor electrode placement. Other complications that can occur during placement or removal of the pacemaker include injury to blood vessels or the heart (perforation, hemorrhage), infection, blood in the chest (hemothorax), air in the chest (pneumothorax), cardiac tamponade, blood clot, and avulsion of the right ventricle. Intrauterine devices may cause perforation of the uterus, increased chance of ectopic pregnancy, increased menstrual blood flow, and painful menstruation. The device also may be expelled, leading to unintended pregnancy.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor

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