Central venous access resulting in selective failure of ICD defibrillation capacity.
In a patient with a defibrillator system incorporating a lead with integrated bipolar sensing, physical contact between a guidewire (inserted for venous access) and the right ventricular defibrillation coil created sensing artefacts that triggered an inappropriate discharge. The presence of the guidewire in the heart during the discharge resulted in an electrical short with irreversible damage to the generator and rendered it incapable of delivering further high voltage therapy.
Varma
N
N
Cardiac Electrophysiology Department, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. nxv11@po.cwru.edu
Cunningham
D
D
Falk
R
R
D016477:Artifacts; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy