Rash after implant

Hello,  My son had his epicardial pacer replaced on 7/10. He was released from the hospital the next day and bandage came off on 7/12.  On 7/13 he started to develop a rash only on his trunk and it’s worse around the pacemaker area. Each day it’s getting a little worse.  I’m not really getting any help from the docs. They said it could be from what they use before surgery to clean the body.  But it didn’t develop until days later.  His pacer is a little swollen and he thinks it feels warm to the touch.   The incision looks good.  He’s starting to feel uncomfortable with this.  It’s not the antibiotic as that would be a whole body reaction.  He’s not using any cream or lotions. Any help would be appreciated. I have heard it could be the skin rejecting the pacer or an allergy to something on the pacer like the silicone or titanium?  

Help!  

 

Thank uou. 

4 Comments

push the doctors

by Tracey_E - 2018-07-18 11:00:25

A reaction to antibiotics can just be the trunk, or just the face. 

It's highly unlikely it's a reaction to the metal, esp if this isn't his first one.

It's also unlikely it's an infection this soon, but you can't be too diligent and too proactive. There is a lot at stake if it's infection and not stopped early, so it pays to investigate any small sign. 

Don’t think it’s antibiotic.

by momof3greatkids - 2018-07-18 11:14:06

He’s been on the antibiotics before with no issue and rash didn’t go away when antibiotic was stopped.  

I don’t think there is an infection. When do infections typically show up post op?  

 

  

 

Rash

by AgentX86 - 2018-07-18 15:25:11

Infections can show up pretty much any time as can allergies,  particularly the first time.  My EP didn't like the redness around my incision,  during the one-week check, so put me on Keflex for a week.  My arms started itching and I developed an insignificant, to me, rash on my arms. I finished the Keflex (couple more days). The next day I saw my endocrinologist and said something to her about it. She immediately put Keflex on my chart as an allergen and told me never to touch the stuff again. 

The first exposure be very minor and unpredictable. The next may not be so benign. That's another reason to get to the bottom of this (the primary, of course, is to rule out infection).

I very much doubt it's the pacemaker material, itself.

Not antibiotoc

by momof3greatkids - 2018-07-18 16:46:39

thanks for the comments.  It was confirmed that it’s not the antibiotic.  He’s 8days post op so it’s not what they used to clean the skin prior to surgery either.   Still don’t have answers. 

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