Follow-up X rays play a key role in detecting implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead fracture: a case of incessant inappropriate shocks due to lead fracture.
A patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) received incessant inappropriate shocks due to a lead fracture 3 years after implantation. Routine lead measurements at 3-month intervals had shown no abnormal findings even at the most recent measurement performed 2 months prior to the event. In contrast, serial observation of chest X rays clearly disclosed progressive lead narrowing starting 11 months prior to the event. This case indicates the importance of the routine chest X rays in long-term follow-up of ICDs and sets a precedent for interpreting lead narrowing in such X rays.
Morishima
Itsuro
I
Department of Cardiology, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, Ogaki, Japan. morishima-i@muc.biglobe.ne.jp
Sone
Takahito
T
Tsuboi
Hideyuki
H
Kondo
Junichiro
J
Mukawa
Hiroaki
H
D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000601:surgery*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic