Late perforation of a right ventricular pacing lead: a potentially dangerous complication.
Four days after uncomplicated implantation of a two-chamber pacemaker and a normal postoperative course, a patient was referred to our hospital with left-sided hemothorax and early hemorrhagic shock. Chest X-ray and CT scan were suspicious of a right ventricular lead perforation with additional pericardial and pleural injury. Immediate surgery was performed via a lateral thoracotomy and the perforation was repaired via direct suture. An epimyocardial ventricular lead was implanted simultaneously. The patient made an uneventful recovery.
Schroeter
T
T
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. thomas-schroeter@gmx.de
Doll
N
N
Borger
M A
MA
Groesdonk
H V
HV
Merk
D R
DR
Mohr
F W
FW