An unusual case of pacemaker failure: complete disconnection of connector block and battery of a subpectorally implanted dual chamber pacemaker.
Local trauma to patients with implanted pacemaker devices may result in lead fracture or breakage of the lead socket with leakage of fluid into the connector system. This report describes an unusual case of complete entrance and exit block in a subpectorally implanted dual chamber pacemaker due to total disconnection and dislodgement of header block and battery part. Damage may be caused by an interaction of machine fatigue/manufacturing defective and fixation of the header with unusual movability of the battery, leading to breakage with intermittent malfunction and consecutive bradycardia and syncope.
Mellert
Fritz
F
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center at the University of Bonn, Germany. fritz.mellert@uni-bonn.de
Esmailzadeh
Bahman
B
Schneider
Christian
C
Haushofer
Marcus
M
Schimpf
Rainer
R
Wolpert
Christian
C
Preusse
Claus J
CJ
Lüderitz
Berndt
B
Welz
Armin
A
D000368:Aged; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000628:therapy*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*