Postpericardiotomy syndrome and cardiac tamponade as a late complication after pacemaker implantation.
In a 78-year old woman, pacemaker implantation was complicated by a transient perforation of the endocardial lead. The patient was in stable condition for up to 7 weeks after implantation, after which pericardial effusion and subacute cardiac tamponade developed and pericardiocentesis became necessary. This case illustrates that even after initially uneventful pacemaker lead perforation, careful, long-term follow-up is necessary to recognize the potential development of late postpericardiotomy syndrome.
Spindler
M
M
Department of Cardiology, Medizinische Universitätsklinik Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany. spindler@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Burrows
G
G
Kowallik
P
P
Ertl
G
G
Voelker
W
W
D000368:Aged; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D020519:Pericardiocentesis; D011185:Postpericardiotomy Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery