Brief report: 2D-echo diagnosis of interventricular septal perforation by a temporary pacing electrode.
We report the case of an 83-year-old patient affected by hypertensive cardiopathy and admitted to our Division for left ventricular failure and complete atrioventricular block; a temporary electrode was inserted via the right internal jugular vein. A routine 2D-echo examination performed one day later clearly showed the catheter tip in the left ventricular cavity; the interventricular septal perforation was confirmed by the presence of right bundle branch block pattern on surface electrocardiogram. The following clinical course was totally event-free and the patient eventually underwent permanent pacing. A comparison with the few cases of pacing-related myocardial perforations so far described by the literature is made.
Oneglia
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C
Division of Cardiology, Hospital Fatebenefratelli S. Orsola, Brescia.
Simoncelli
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U
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004566:Electrodes / Q000009:adverse effects; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*