Pneumopericardium: an uncommon complication of atrial lead perforation following pacemaker implantation.
Cardiac perforation is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening complication of pacemaker implantation. We report a case of right atrial lead perforation complicated by pneumopericardium shortly after pacemaker lead insertion. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed no evidence of pericardial effusion and pacemaker lead displacement, but a thoracic computed tomography scan illustrated the lead course and confirmed the diagnosis. This case suggests that computed tomography is a sensitive modality to confirm the diagnosis at the early stage of this complication.
Julien
J
Higny
Dominique
D
Blommaert
D000368:Aged; D020878:Device Removal; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011026:Pneumopericardium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012086:Reoperation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome