title: Temporary epicardial pacing wire removal: is it an innocuous procedure?
abstract: The safety and efficacy of temporary pericardial pacing wires have been accepted and their use is common after cardiac operations. Complications related to pacing wire removal are unusual but it can be serious and even catastrophic. We report an unusual case of bleeding due the laceration and rent created in the saphenous vein graft wall by the metallic tip of the pacing wire at the time of pacing wire removal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart and Lung Centre, New Cross Hospital, Wednesfield Road, Wolverhampton WV10 0QP, UK. mishrapk_25@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Pankaj Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lengyel
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lakshmanan
authors.forename: Heyman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luckraz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D020878:Device Removal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000293:injuries* / Q000637:transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome