Amid allegations that an anaesthetist has been improperly inserting pacemakers into hospital patients, the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) announced yesterday that it stands behind its procedures.

The statement was released by King Edward VII Memorial Hospital?s Chief of Anaesthesia Dr. Allistair McCrirrick and Director of Cardiac Care, Dr. Shane Marshall.

?While complications in this procedure are known to occur, the incidence of serious complications during, or related to, pacemaker insertion at KEMH bears favourable comparison to any similar centre,? the doctors said.

They said their joint statement was being made in response to other media broadcasts this week that a female patient was stranded in the Intensive Care Unit for several days awaiting a part for her recently implanted pacemaker to arrive on the Island and the practice of anaesthetists implanting pacemakers was unknown in other hospitals.

?Permanent pacemakers are inserted at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) by a team of experienced and qualified doctors that includes two anaesthetists,? the doctors said. ?The anaesthetist, who inserts the pacemaker wires and may programme the device, has received specialised training in the United States and has full hospital privileges to undertake this procedure.

?The second anaesthetist oversees the patient?s safety and ensures their comfort,? they said. ?Every pacemaker is inserted with the full support and advice of an experienced cardiologist who has specialist knowledge of the workings of the pacemaker and conducts appropriate follow-up of the patient.

?KEMH believes its pacemaker insertion service exemplifies its high standards of care and every member of the team has the full support of the hospital. Anaesthetists are specifically trained in the insertion of catheters into the heart, an integral part of the pacemaker insertion.?