title: Three-dimensional echocardiographic documentation of pacemaker lead perforation presenting as acute pericarditis.
abstract: Myocardial perforation is a rare complication of permanent pacemaker insertion and is usually detected during the first month after implantation. Pericardial effusion often occurs at the same time, and as a consequence may generate difficulties in the diagnostic workup due to the various aetiologies of its origin. Computed tomography has been used for the documentation of lead perforation, but its diagnostic accuracy in comparison to echocardiographic examination has not been validated. We report a case of ventricular perforation causing pericarditis, initially undetected by computed tomography, that was finally diagnosed by means of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Nicea, Piraeus, Greece. plato203@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Alexandros S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Stefanidis
authors.forename: Panagiotis N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Margos
authors.forename: Athanasios A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kotsakis
authors.forename: Evaggelos G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Papasteriadis
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020878:Device Removal; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids