title: Pacemaker lead malposition in the left atrial roof is masked by normal pacing thresholds.
abstract: Pacemaker lead malpositioning with subsequent cardiac tamponade is a rare, but serious adverse event. We herein report a case of pacemaker lead malpositioning in a 76-year old female caucasian patient. The lead was malpositioned into the roof of the left atrium after perforation of the superior vena cava, resulting in cardiac tamponade. After fast surgical revision and an uneventful post-operative period, the patient was discharged in excellent condition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna A-1090, Austria. claus.rath@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreas
authors.forename: Caesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Khazen
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wiedemann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Habertheuer
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic