Delayed presentation of totally avulsed right superior vena cava after extraction of permanent pacemaker lead

Pacemaker lead extraction has been shown to be an effective and safe treatment for infected permanent pacemaker leads, however, they may lead to potentially serious complications, usually occurring during the extraction procedure. This report describes a case of a 48-year-old woman with a patent persistent left SVC and an infected permanent pacemaker lead of a DDD pacing system who underwent transvenous laser-assisted lead extraction using a combined SVC and femoral approach. Two days after the procedure the patient developed symptoms of SVC obstruction requiring surgical intervention. The right SVC was found to be almost completely destroyed with only a thin strip of the lateral wall intact and active bleeding. The probable causative mechanisms and surgical management are discussed.     

Lead Dislodgment of a Permanent Pacemaker Due to Removal of a Temporary Pacing Electrode

A 63-year-old male received a transvenous temporary pacemaker for bradyarrhythmia following mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve annuloplasty. A transvenous permanent pacemaker was implanted the following day due to persistence of the bradyarrythmia and pacemaker dependency of the patient. Later the same day during removal of the temporary pacing electrode the permanent pacing lead was dislodged and had to be operatively repositioned. To avoid this complication, the position of pacemaker leads should be checked postoperatively with a frontal and lateral chest radiograph, and fluoroscopy should be used during removal of a temporary lead.     

Transvenous pacemaker lead removal is safe and effective even in large vegetations: an analysis of 53 cases of pacemaker lead endocarditis

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether transvenous lead removal is safe and effective in patients with lead vegetations greater than 1 cm in size. Methods: From 1991 to 2005, a total of 53 patients underwent pacemaker or ICD lead removal for vegetations. Transvenous lead removal using locking stylets and sheaths was performed in 30 patients (56.6%) and was found to be effective in 29 of those patients. In 1 patient, due to rupture of the lead, open heart removal of the ventricular lead remnant and tricuspid valve repair had to be performed due to persistent infection. In 23 of these patients, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) verified vegetations greater than 1 cm in size. The remaining patients underwent primary lead removal using sternotomy and extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Pacemaker pocket infection was found in 16 patients (55.2%) of the transvenous study group and in 11 patients (45.8%) of the ECC group (P = 0.72). Results: Perioperative mortality was 5.7% (3 patients); all of them underwent primary ECC removal and had severe endocarditis of the tricuspid valve. None of the patients who underwent transvenous lead removal died and there were no further complications such as pericardial tamponade or major pulmonary embolism requiring further interventions, even in patients demonstrating large vegetations. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that transvenous lead removal is a safe and highly effective procedure for the removal of infected pacemaker and ICD leads, even in patients with large vegetations. Embolism to the lung proceeds mainly without further complications; however, patients with vegetations that might obstruct a main stem of the pulmonary artery should undergo ECC removal.     

Paradoxic Embolism Due to Altered Hemodynamic Sequencing Following Transvenous Pacing

A young patient, who experienced a cerebral embolic event 30 days after transvenous pacemaker iead placement, is reported. This patient had previously been paced with an epicardial lead without evidence of right to left intracardiac shunt. However, hemodynamic evaluation post-embolism demonstrated a marked temporal disparity of the pulmonary and systemic ventricles. This phasic divergence resulted in a brief reversal of right and left ventricular pressure ratios, and a paradoxic intracardiac shunt at a small ventricular septal defect. The potential for similar events in the presence of any defect of the atrial or ventricular septum mandates caution in the use of transvenous pacemaker leads in such patients.     

Disseminated Aspergillosis and Pacemaker Endocarditis

Clinical and pathologic findings in a 65-year old woman with fever of unknown origin are described in this report. Generalized aspergillosis with endocarditis was demonstrated at autopsy. The patient had no recognized risk factors for the development of fungal infection. A functional transvenous pacemaker lead, inserted 2 years previously, was completely encased in a large infected thrombus and may have been the initial site of infection. Septicemia and endocarditis are rare but well-described complications of cardiac pacing, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin in patients with pacemakers.     

Elimination of Lead Dislodgement by the Use of Tined Transvenous Electrodes

Pacemaker lead dislodgement has accounted for a large proportion of the postoperative complications seen after transvenous pacemaker insertion. Ninety-two patients underwent implantation of a tined transvenous electrode over a three-year period without a single dislodgement. Excellent thresholds were obtained and no difficulties related to electrode insertion were encountered. Tined transvenous pacemaker leads are preferred for routine use at this time.     

Successful upgrade to cardiac resynchronization therapy for cardiac implantation-associated left subclavian vein occlusion: A case report

BACKGROUNDSubclavian vein stenosis or occlusion may be caused by a transvenous pacemaker, which makes the reimplantation of a new pacemaker lead difficult. Transvenous pacemaker lead implantation-related subclavian vein occlusion may present difficulty with regard to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) upgrade.CASE SUMMARYWe report the case of a 46-year-old man who was admitted with total subclavian vein occlusion caused by a permanent pacemaker that had been implanted 2 years previously. We successfully treated this patient with an upgrade to a CRT pacemaker by utilizing transferable interventional coronary and radiological techniques. The patient recovered uneventfully during the follow-up period.CONCLUSIONCRT upgrade is still a viable technique for the treatment of subclavian vein obstruction caused by previous pacemaker implantation.     

Pulsed Doppler echocardiographic detection of the origin of musical murmurs in a case of pacemaker implantation

We report a case of systolic and diastolic musical murmurs that developed 4 years after DDD pacemaker implantation. Echocardiographic examination disclosed no evidence of serious pacemaker-related complications. Pulsed Doppler examination with a sample volume at the right ventricular portion of a pacemaker lead showed prominent harmonic signals. The timing of the signals was consistent with that of musical murmurs. We considered vibration of the pacemaker lead as a possible origin of the musical murmurs. Systolic and diastolic musical murmurs can develop without serious cause in a patient with a transvenous pacemaker. Pulsed Doppler examination was useful in detecting the origin of musical murmurs.     

Surgical Removal of Infected Transvenous Pacemaker Leads

Infection, though uncommon, can be the most lethal of all potential complications following transvenous pacemaker implantation. Eradication of infection associated with pacemakers requires complete removal of all hardware, including inactive leads. Since 1972, 5,089 patients have had 8,508 pacemaker generators implanted at Montefiore Medical Center. There were 91 infections (1.06%); four of our patients required surgical removal. Nine additional patients were referred for surgical removal of infected transvenous pacemaker leads from other institutions. Surgical methods for removal included use of cardiopulmonary bypass or inflow occlusion. Surgery may be safely used in unstable or elderly patients and should not be reserved as a last resort. This article reviews our surgical experience removing infected pacemaker leads at Montefiore Medical Center.     

Permanent nonselective His bundle pacing in an adult with L‐transposition of the great arteries and complete AV block

We report the placement of a permanent transvenous nonselective His bundle pacing lead in conjunction with a transvenous pacemaker/implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator in an adult with Levo‐Transposition of the Great Arteries (L‐TGA) and a stenotic coronary sinus (CS) ostium, which would not accommodate a transvenous left ventricular (LV) pacing lead. Nonselective His bundle pacing provided a nearly identical ventricular activation pattern in this previously unpaced patient. Many L‐TGA patients will have an eventual need for permanent pacing and, given the challenges of CS cannulation, His bundle pacing may represent a preferred modality rather than pure morphologic LV pacing or surgical systemic ventricular lead placement to achieve optimal electrical synchrony.     

Permanent pacemaker lead entrapment: role of the transesophageal echocardiography

Numerous complications induced by pacemaker electrodes have been reported. Although mild tricuspid regurgitation is a well-documented complication of transvenous right ventricular pacemaker leads secondary to abnormal valve coaptation, severe tricuspid regurgitation resultingfrom perforation of the tricuspid valve itself is a rare complication. This case report details a patient with severe tricuspid regurgitation secondary to impingement of the tricuspid valve by a permanent pacing lead that was diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography. Surgical repair was advocated because of symptomatic significant tricuspid regurgitation.     

Biventricular Pacing Using Two Pacemakers and the Triggered VVT Mode

O'COCHLAIN, B., et al. : Biventricular Pacing Using Two Pacemakers and the Triggered VVT Mode. Pacemaker dependent patients exhibit interventricular conduction delay due to right ventricular lead placement. The addition of a transvenous coronary sinus lead for biventricular pacing has been shown to be effective. Venous stenosis and thrombosis postpacemaker implantation can occur in up to 35% of patients. This report describes a patient with a preexisting left-sided dual chamber pacemaker and chronic left subclavian vein occlusion that was upgraded to a biventricular system by placing a coronary sinus lead and single chamber ventricular triggered pacemaker on the opposite side.     

Permanent Transfemoral Pacemaker Implantation Is the Technique of Choice for Patients in Whom the Superior Vena Cava Is Inaccessible

We describe transfemoral pacemaker implantation in three patients in whom pacing via the superior vena cava was not possible or suboptimal. The first was an 88-year-old man with superior vena cava obstruction presenting with fractured spicardial pacing leads. Recent pneumonia increased the risks of a general anesthetic. The second patient was a 57-year-old man who was intolerant of a pectorally sited pacemaker because of the thinness of his anterior chest wall. The third patient was a 69-year-old woman who presented with an infected eroding pectorally sited pacemaker. Scarring secondary to a previous pacemaker infection rendered the contralateral pectoral site inaccessible. Since the subclavian route was inaccessible (case 1) or suboptimai (case 2 and 3), we implanted transvenous pacemakers via the femoral route, which was safe, and effective, during a 6-month follow-up period.     

Congenital Absence of Superior Vena Cava: Unusual Anomaly of Superior Systemic Veins Complicating Pacemaker Placement

Congenital anomalies of the superior systemic veins can complicate placement of transvenous pacemaker electrode leads. Persistent left superior vena cava is the most common congenital anomaly; in this paper, we describe the case of a patient who had con-genital absence of both superior venae cavae, which has not been reported pre-viously. The superior syslemic veins drained into persistent double ozygos veins subdiaphragmatically. The anomaly was verified by venography. Temporory car-dioc pacing was established by passing the electrode lead through the femoral vein, and a permanent epicordial pacemaker lead was placed thereafter. This appears to be the first recorded case of such an anomaly.     

Is Epicardial Dual Chamber Pacing a Realistic Alternative to Endocardial DDD Pacing? Initial Results of a Prospective Study

Seventeen patients, in whom an epicardial (n = 7) or a transvenous DDDM pacemaker system had been implanted between June 1988 and October 1990, were followed up for pacemaker and lead related complications, pacemaker longevity, and electrophysiological lead parameters. The mean follow-up interval was 18 +/- 12 months, maximum 34 months. There were no differences in chronic atrial and ventricular sensing thresholds between epicardial and endocardial stimulation, nor were there any differences concerning lead related complications between the two pacing modalities. However, atrial as well as ventricular chronic stimulation thresholds were significantly higher with epicardial stimulation resulting in a twofold increase in atrial energy consumption and a threefold increase in the ventricular energy consumption. Thus, in one patient with an epicardial DDD system, the pacemaker had to be replaced prematurely because of battery depletion. It is concluded that epicardial DDD stimulation can be reliably performed as far as atrial and ventricular sensing is concerned, but that the energy requirements of available myocardial leads are not satisfactory for making optimal use of modern pacemaker capability.     

Inadvertent Left Ventricle Endocardial or Uncomplicated Right Ventricular Pacing: How to Differentiate in the Emergency Department

Background

Temporary transvenous pacemaker implantation is an important and critical procedure for emergency physicians. Traditionally, temporary pacemakers are inserted by electrocardiography (ECG) guidance in the emergency department because fluoroscopy at the bedside in an unstable patient can be limited by time and equipment availability. However, in the presence of atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, and patent foramen ovale, the pacemaker lead can be implanted inadvertently into the left ventricle or directly into the coronary sinus instead of right ventricle. Regular pacemaker rhythm can be achieved despite inadvertent implantation of the pacemaker lead into the left ventricle, leading to ignorance of the possibility of lead malposition.

Implantation of Atrial Synchronous Pacemaker with Transvenous Electrodes after Surgery for Hypertrophic Subaortic Stenosis

An atrial synchronous ventricular pacemaker was implanted in a patient with hypertrophic subaortic stenosis who developed permanent complete atrioventricular block during Jeft venfriculomyotomy and myectomy. In spite of partial amputation of the right atrial appendage, performed during cannulafion for cardiopul-monary bypass, a transvenous pacing lead with a helically coiled tip was easily attached to the remnant of the appendage and satisfactory atrial sensing was achieved.     

Venous complications after insertion of a transvenous pacemaker.

We reviewed the incidence, clinical features, current diagnostic evaluations, and treatments of venous complications that can occur after implantation of a transvenous pacemaker. Of the approximately 80 published articles on the potential venous complications after implantation of a permanent transvenous pacemaker, we selected 63 that addressed the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of pacemaker lead-induced venous thrombosis, which occurs in approximately 30 to 45% of patients early or late after implantation of a transvenous pacemaker. Most patients with chronic deep venous thrombosis remain asymptomatic because of the development of an adequate venous collateral circulation. Clinical features of pacemaker lead-induced deep venous thrombosis, although rare, are easily recognized. They should be sought routinely during follow-up of all patients with transvenous pacemaker leads because venous obstruction can interfere with intravenously administered therapy, monitoring of central venous pressure, and revision of a pacemaker lead. Acute deep venous thrombosis is likely to be symptomatic. Early recognition and treatment of acute deep venous thrombosis may help to decrease the potential morbidity and mortality. The definitive diagnosis of pacemaker lead-induced venous thrombosis necessitates contrast-enhanced or digital subtraction venography. Management includes anticoagulation, thrombolytic therapy, surgical intervention, and, recently, percutaneous transluminal balloon venoplasty and depends on the duration, extent, and site of venous occlusion as well as the accompanying symptoms.     

切面超声下起搏器植入初探

目的： 探讨超声显像应用于心脏起搏器植入手术的方法和效果。方法： １１ 例有永久起搏指征的患者中, 选用ＶＤＤ １ 例, ＶＶＩ６ 例, ＶＶＩＲ ２ 例, 自动夺获型ＶＶＩ２ 例。穿刺左锁骨下静脉插入永久电极, 分别取剑下上下腔静脉长轴切面、剑下四腔切面、左侧位心尖四腔、胸骨旁四腔切面和剑下右室流出道长轴切面反复确认导管尖端经上腔静脉、右房、三尖瓣口抵达右室心尖部而非抵达室间隔中段或右室流出道并确保导管心房段留有足够弧度。测试验证永久电极的阈值、阻抗、感知性能等参数满意后结扎固定导管, 将起搏器与导管牢固连接、埋入胸前皮下囊袋。结果： １１ 例手术均顺利完成, 电极定位指标均满意。经最短３ 月、最长１５ 月随访, 起搏系统工作正常, 除 １ 例电极脱位外, 无其他并发症。结论： 超声引导下实施心脏起搏, 是一项高效、安全、简便、实用和经济的超声介入新技术, 似可作为Ｘ 线透视下永久起搏术的替代和补充, 采用多切面、动态观察电极尖端走向是定位成功的关键