Early pacemaker lead thrombosis leading to massive pulmonary embolism.
Clinically apparent pulmonary embolism is a rare complication of permanent transvenous pacing catheters. Here we report an unusual case of a 71-year-old man who developed massive pulmonary embolism 12 hours after a permanent transvenous pacemaker implantation in the absence of any patient-related predisposing factor. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a large thrombus within the right atrium closely attached to the pacemaker lead. Anticoagulation with heparin, followed by warfarin therapy, led to a complete resolution of the thrombus.
Karavidas
Apostolos
A
Department of Cardiology, Athens General Hospital, Greece.
Lazaros
George
G
Matsakas
Evangellos
E
Kouvousis
Nicolaos
N
Samara
Christiana
C
Christoforatou
Evangellia
E
Zacharoulis
Apostolos
A
D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017211:Treatment Failure