Blunt trauma-induced pacemaker failure.
A 54-year-old man with an artificial pacemaker sustained blunt trauma to his chest when he was struck with a baseball bat. Within 15 minutes after the injury, the patient experienced cardiovascular collapse. His pacemaker failed, and he required insertion of a temporary transvenous pacemaker. At surgery, the defect was traced to failure of the pulse generator, a rare cause of pacemaker failure. Emergency department evaluation should include prompt and continuous ECG monitoring, an overpenetrated chest radiograph, and telemetry evaluation after discharge.
Brown
K R
KR
Department of Ambulatory Care, Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, New York 10461.
Carter
W
W
Lombardi
G E
GE
D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012151:Resuscitation; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*