Suicide by self-removal of a pacemaker.
A 70-year-old man extracted his own pacemaker and subclavian port used for delivery of chemotherapy, both implanted 2 weeks earlier. The patient died of septicemia within 6 days. This fatal outcome illustrates the risks of complications associated with severe psychiatric disorders after implantation of prosthetic devices.
Bordier
Philippe
P
Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-LévAxêque, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, France. phibordier@aol.com
Robert
Frederic
F
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012652:Self Mutilation; D013405:Suicide