title: Fracture and Lung Penetration of a Left Ventricular Lead Stabilized by Retained Stylet.
abstract: During cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacemaker implantation in a 54-year-old female patient, removing the stylet resulted in repeated left ventricular (LV) lead dislodgment. Lead stability was achieved by retaining the stylet within the lead lumen. Two years after cardiac resynchronization therapy, a LV lead fracture near the connector pin occurred. The proximal lead segment was removed, and a new connector pin was attached. Two years after that, the same lead fractured in the right atrium with the stylet penetrating the lung. The LV lead and retained stylet were successfully extracted. LV lead dislodgment is a limitation of CRT, but using the retained stylet technique to achieve lead stability is potentially dangerous and is not recommended.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis University Heart Center, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Osztheimer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Military Hospital, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duray
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis University Heart Center, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Kálmán
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hüttl
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis University Heart Center, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: merkely.bela.@kardio.sote.hu.
authors.forename: Béla
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Merkely
mesh_terms: D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods