title: Diagnosis and management of iatrogenic cardiac perforation caused by pacemaker and defibrillator leads.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiac perforations caused by pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads are uncommon but potentially fatal events. The optimal approach to such cases is unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the optimal imaging modality and management strategy for cardiac perforation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients presenting to a single institution with cardiac perforation >24 h since implant between 2011 and 2015 were identified retrospectively. Assessment of the diagnostic performance of pre-extraction chest radiography, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and computed tomography (CT) was carried out by blinded review. The method of lead extraction and any associated complications were examined. Eighteen cases of cardiac perforation were identified from 426 lead extraction procedures. Sixteen patients had abnormal electrical parameters at device interrogation. In all cases, the perforating lead was an active fixation model, and in four cases, this was an ICD coil. The accuracy of CT imaging for the diagnosis of cardiac perforation was 92.9%, with sensitivity and specificity of 100 and 85.7%, respectively. This was superior to both TTE (accuracy 62.7%, sensitivity and specificity 41.2 and 84.2%, respectively) and chest radiography (accuracy 61.1%, sensitivity and specificity 27.7 and 94.4%, respectively). Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) was performed in 17 patients, and a hybrid surgical approach in 1 patient. Of those who underwent TLE, there was 100% complete procedural success as per Heart Rhythm Society definitions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the setting of cardiac perforation, CT is the imaging modality of choice. Transvenous lead extraction can be recommended as a safe, efficacious, and versatile intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rajkumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Claridge
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Behar
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Manav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sohal
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amraoui
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Computed Tomography, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Arjun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Computed Tomography, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Preston
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jaswinder
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.|Department of Cardiac Computed Tomography, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Ronak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000009:adverse effects; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cardiac perforation diagnosis; Computed tomography; Lead extraction; Pacemaker; Transthoracic echocardiography