Implantable cardioverter defibrillator patch erosion in a heart transplant patient.
A 57-year-old man who had received an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator and subsequent orthotopic heart transplant presented to medical attention for hemoptysis. The hemoptysis was caused by the migration of the left ventricular patch of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which had been left in place at the time of orthotopic heart transplant. The patch had eroded into the left lung. We recommend that implantable cardioverter defibrillators be removed completely at the time of heart transplantation to prevent subsequent complications.
Chilukuri
S
S
Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Herlihy
J P
JP
Massumkhani
G A
GA
Duncan
J M
JM
Frazier
O H
OH
D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004566:Electrodes; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed