title: Temporary epicardial pacing wire migrating to and exiting from the jaw.
abstract: A 63-year-old woman underwent cardiac surgery, with atrial and ventricular temporary epicardial pacing wires being placed at the end of the procedure. Four months after the operation, the patient experienced tooth decay and underwent a tooth extraction. Thereafter, the patient developed an infected, swollen neck; computed tomography revealed that one of the temporary pacing wires had migrated into her neck. The patient was readmitted for removal of the wire, but it spontaneously exited through the skin of the lower jaw; the infection was resolved with intravenous antibiotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hayama Heart Center, Kanagawa, Japan. Electronic address: world1@bc4.so-net.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Taichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hayama Heart Center, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirota
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hayama Heart Center, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Joji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hayama Heart Center, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hayama Heart Center, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Notomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hayama Heart Center, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isomura
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010496:Pericardium; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed