Echocardiographic Localization of an Inadvertently Placed Pacing Catheter in the Left Ventricle

This report describes a patient in whom a permanent transvenous pacemaker lead was placed unintentionally across the atrial septum and retained in the left ventricle for nearly 11 years before the error was recognized. A 12-lead electrocardiogram showed paced complexes with right bundle branch block configuration. This appearance raised suspicion that the pacemaker electrode might be in the left ventricle and this was confirmed by two-dimensional echocardiography. Two-dimensional echocardiography is useful for the diagnosis of pacing lead malplacement and should be performed in any patient who develops right bundle branch block pattern on the surface electrocardiogram following pacemaker implantation.     

Pacemaker catheter induced systolic murmurs in two patients

Although extracardiac sounds secondary to cardiac pacing have been well known, the murmurs originating in the heart after permanent pacemaker implantation and then disappearance after exchanging a temporary to permanent lead have rarely been reported. In this paper, two patients revealing a musical systolic murmur after placement of a transvenous endocardial pacemaker in the absence of any complications were documented. Case 1: A 43-year-old man with episodes of dizziness and brady-tachycardiac atrial fibrillation. Immediately after the implantation of a temporary transvenous right ventricular pacemaker, a high-pitched systolic musical murmur was heard at the lower left sternal border. No murmur was however gullible after a permanent pacemaker implantation in this case. Case 2 was a 83-year-old female with coronary heart disease associated with sick sinus syndrome to whom a permanent transvenous right ventricular pacemaker was inserted. A musical systolic murmur occurring immediately after the procedure was best audible at the apex. Although numerous papers concerning the mechanisms of these cardiac murmurs have been reported without reaching conclusive explanations, our data based on two cases examined with Doppler echocardiography did not support the idea of tricuspid regurgitation as one of causative factors. In the first case, this murmur appeared only a temporary pacing was performed and disappeared after implantation of a permanent pacemaker lead. On the contrary, however, the 2nd case revealed after the implantation of the permanent pacemaker with a relatively rigid bipolar lead. It is concluded that these murmurs might be produced by vibrations caused by the pacing catheters and physical properties could be related the mechanism of this phenomenon.     

Early pacemaker lead thrombosis leading to massive pulmonary embolism

Clinically apparent pulmonary embolism is a rare complication of permanent transvenous pacing catheters. Here we report an unusual case of a 71-year-old man who developed massive pulmonary embolism 12 hours after a permanent transvenous pacemaker implantation in the absence of any patient-related predisposing factor. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a large thrombus within the right atrium closely attached to the pacemaker lead. Anticoagulation with heparin, followed by warfarin therapy, led to a complete resolution of the thrombus.     

Perforating epicardial lead: atypical evolution

Endocarditis related to pacemaker lead is a rare complication of permanent transvenous pacing, of which the diagnosis is carried out with the presence of verrucae in echocardiography and positive blood cultures, its treatment being mixed -medical and surgical- because the isolated medical treatment is rarely successful and the lead should be extracted. We present the case of recurrent endocarditis of several years of evolution, in the which it was not possible to extract of the electrode due to the special characteristics of the patiente (epicardial lead perforating into right atrial).     

Treatment of refractory recurrent multifocal atrial tachycardia with atrioventricular junction ablation and permanent pacing

Multifocal atrial tachycardia is a difficult clinical problem generally associated with acute cardiorespiratory illness. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and clinical utility of atrioventricular junction ablation plus permanent transvenous pacemaker implantation as therapy for uncontrolled refractory multifocal atrial tachycardia. Three patients with uncontrolled refractory multifocal atrial tachycardia underwent atrioventricular junction ablation plus permanent transvenous pacemaker implantation. Complications and outcome of each procedure was monitored and both objective and subjective assessment of physical functional capacity was assessed by a semiquantitative examination. Ablation procedures controlled the ventricular response in all patients. There were no complications related to the ablation procedure or implantation of permanent transvenous pacing system. All patients demonstrated subjective improvement in symptoms. Palpitations were virtually eradicated in these patients and all enjoyed significant improvements in rest and effort dyspnea, exercise tolerance and asthenia. Objective assessment of functional class also demonstrated significant improvements. Atrioventricular ablation plus permanent transvenous pacing offers a safe and effective therapy for uncontrolled refractory multifocal atrial tachycardia.     

Recurrent cardioembolic stroke related to late dislodgement of a right atrial pacing lead into the left atrium.

A 76-year-old woman had a permanent transvenous DDDR pacemaker implanted for complete atrioventricular block. She was hospitalized 4 years later for recurrent transient ischaemic attacks related to dislodgment of the atrial lead into the left atrium through a patent foramen ovale. The patient was successfuly treated by transvenous extraction of the atrial lead. The follow-up has been uneventful 12 months after the procedure. Left atrially dislodged pacemaker leads have to be retracted under full anticoagulation.     

Severe tricuspid regurgitation secondary to dislodgement of the atrial loop into the right ventricle: an unusual complication of pacemaker implantation in a young adult

Transvenous pacemaker leads may impair tricuspid valve function. Severe tricuspid regurgitation due to leaflet adhesion to the pacemaker lead has not been reported in a young adult patient in the literature. Our patient underwent a transvenous pacemaker implantation for symptoms of bradycardia. An atrial loop was created in the right atrium for future growth. After 10 years of follow-up, the patient was seen with severe tricuspid regurgitation and enlarged right heart structures due to migration of the atrial loop of the pacemaker lead into the right ventricle and adhesion of the lead to the tricuspid valve. Cardiac surgery and epicardial pacing was the chosen procedure to solve this problem. The venous system and right heart valves should be carefully observed during the follow-up of children who underwent transvenous pacing.     

Bacteremia caused by late-infected pacemaker lead--a case report

A 73-year-old man with bradycardia and atrial fibrillation underwent implantation of a transvenous pacemaker system on the left anterior chest wall in 1995. Six years later, he was admitted for bacteremia from coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Repeated treatment employing antibiotic therapy was ineffective. The infected electrode was removed under cardiopulmonary bypass. His electrode had become firmly encased with fibrous tissue within the right ventricle and atrium. It was removed under direct vision during complete cardiac arrest. The postoperative course was uneventful and there has been no recurrence after 1 year.     

心脏起搏治疗小儿缓慢性心律失常30例的经验

目的总结永久性心脏起搏器治疗小儿缓慢性心律失常的经验。方法因症状性缓慢性心律失常在我院住院置入永久心脏起搏器的患儿30例,男19例、女11例,年龄6.8±4.1(1/12~15)岁。>10 kg的患儿全麻下穿刺左锁骨下静脉,放置心内膜起搏电极,起搏器置于左锁骨下皮下脂肪与肌肉间囊袋中;<10kg的婴儿放置心外膜电极,起搏器置于腹部固定于腹直肌。依据不同年龄将起搏频率设置为70~100次/m in(VVI/AAI/DDD),或60~70/130~140次/m in(VVIR/AAIR)。结果所有患儿均成功置入起搏器,无手术并发症发生,其中VVI 19例、VVIR 7例、AAI 2例、AAIR 1例、DDD 1例;经左锁骨下静脉放置心内膜电极27例,经腹部置入心外膜电极3例。术后随访3个月~6年,患儿体力均有明显改善,异常的左室内径和左室射血分数均于术后3个月内恢复正常。结论小儿起搏器治疗有效、安全,应根据患儿体重及全身状况选择适宜的起搏系统。     

Ventricular pacing from the coronary sinus of a patient with a Fontan circulation.

Permanent pacing of the left ventricle was achieved by transvenous implantation of a steroid-eluting electrode into the coronary sinus in a patient who had undergone a Fontan operation. This approach to endocardial pacemaker implantation is potentially of considerable value in patients who do not have transvenous access to the right ventricle.     

Aspergillus fumigatus pacemaker lead endocarditis: a case report and review of the literature

The diagnosis of fungal endocarditis requires a high index of clinical suspicion. Rarely, pacemaker implantation may be a risk factor for the development of fungal endocarditis. A 71-year-old man with a history of multiple transvenous pacemaker manipulations and fever of an uncertain source is described. A diagnosis of culture-negative pacemaker endocarditis was established only after repeat transthoracic echocardiography. Amphotericin B was instituted; however, the patient developed a cerebral infarct and died. Postmortem examination demonstrated Aspergillus fumigatus within a large pacemaker lead thrombus, tricuspid and aortic valve vegetations, and septic pulmonary and renal emboli. The present report describes the clinical and pathological features of a rare case of Aspergillus fumigatus pacemaker lead endocarditis and suggests that serial echocardiograms may be effective in the early detection of pacemaker lead vegetations. The diagnostic features and therapeutic management of pacemaker lead endocarditis are reviewed.     

Systemic venous atrium stimulation in transvenous pacing after mustard procedure

We present the case of a young woman corrected with a Mustard procedure undergoing successful transvenous double chamber pacemaker implantation with the atrial lead placed in the systemic venous channel. The case presented demonstrates that, when the systemic venous atrium is separate from the left atrial appendage, the lead can be easily and safely placed in the systemic venous left atrium gaining satisfactory sensing and pacing thresholds despite consisting partially of pericardial tissue.     

Pacemakers in children: an update

This report reviews recent pacemaker technological advances as they apply to infants, children, and adolescents. Indications for pacemaker implantation in children have evolved since the 1984 Joint Task Force Guidelines. Recent data show that pacemaker implantation should be strongly considered in patients who have (1) asymptomatic congenital complete AV block with a mean heart rate less than 50 beats/min or other evidence of junctional instability; (2) congenital AV block with long QT interval; or (3) congenital long QT syndrome with bradyarrhythmias, or when conventional beta-blocker therapy is unsuccessful. Permanent pacemaker implantation is not necessarily an effective prophylactic measure against sudden death in patients following their operation who are receiving drug therapy for atrial tachyarrhythmias, and so is not absolutely indicated. New developments in lead technology have made transvenous lead systems more feasible for pediatric use. Because epicardial leads are required for small infants and for cosmetic reasons in some older children, design improvements are needed to enhance epicardial lead performance. Rate-responsive pacing is an acceptable alternative to dual-chamber pacing for augmenting exercise tolerance, and for children with sinus node dysfunction it is the preferred pacing mode. Pacemakers with automatic antitachycardia capabilities and with noninvasive electrophysiology features are valuable in children with atrial tachyarrhythmias. New data suggest that chronic atrial pacing also may be effective in controlling atrial tachyarrhythmias. New developments in pacemaker systems for the young parallel those for the older population, but differences between adult and pediatric patients demand ongoing increased participation by pediatric cardiologists.     

Single-step transvenous extraction of a passive fixation lead with delayed perforation of the right ventricle

Delayed pacemaker lead perforation is a very rare complicationand most of the published reports involve active fixation leads.The authors report an uneventful transvenous extraction of apassive fixation lead, which had a delayed perforation of theright ventricle, disclosed two months after pacemaker implantation.     

Streptokinase dissolution of a right atrial thrombus associated with a temporary pacemaker

Thrombosis of intravascular catheters is a well-recognized and potentially serious complication, which has been treated successfully with thrombolytic agents. A routine echocardiogram in a patient with a temporary transvenous pacemaker demonstrated a large thrombus attached to the pacing electrode. This was dissolved successfully and uneventfully with high-dose intravenous streptokinase therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the successful lysis of a right atrial thrombus complicating a temporary transvenous pacemaker.     

Late free atrial wall rupture after percutaneous atrial septal defect closure and transvenous pacemaker implantation

We report a remarkable case of right atrial rupture, 3 years after transcatheter closure of a secundum atrial septal defect, and 7 months after permanent transvenous two‐chamber pacemaker implantation. The etiology of the rupture remains unclear, but the presence of the two intracardiac devices is probably not coincidental. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Use of cardiac pacing after the Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries

The most frequent complication of the venous redirection (Mustard or Senning) operation for transposition of the great arteries is cardiac arrhythmia. Drug treatment of tachyarrhythmia often worsens bradyarrhythmia. Pacemakers can now treat both arrhythmias. The technique for implantation of pacemakers after redirection for transposition has changed over time from thoracotomy to subxiphoid to transvenous. Atrial pacing is almost always the mode of choice since the electrophysiologic abnormality is sinus node dysfunction with intact atrioventricular conduction. Twenty-nine patients aged 3 to 19 years (mean 9.6) had implantation of a pacemaker a mean of 5.5 years (range 1 to 14) after undergoing the Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries. Symptoms referable to bradycardia were eliminated in each case. Four patients who received an antitachycardia pacemaker no longer have symptomatic tachycardia. Four patients have required reoperation, three because of lead problems and one because of traumatic erosion of the pacemaker. Pacemakers provide excellent relief of symptoms after the Mustard or Senning operation. Transvenous atrial automatic antitachycardia pacemakers offer the best combination of ease of implantation and symptomatic relief.     

Biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator use in a patient with heart failure and ventricular tachycardia secondary to Emery-Dreifuss syndrome.

We report a case of fully transvenous single-unit biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) use in a 43-year-old woman with a manifesting carrier form of muscular dystrophy (Emery-Dreifuss syndrome). The indication for biventricular ICD use was progressive heart failure with ventricular arrhythmia, permanent atrial fibrillation and previous VVIR pacemaker insertion. Single-unit transvenous biventricular ICD implantation was undertaken without complication. No potentially serious device malfunction was noted during subsequent follow-up. We conclude that single-unit biventricular ICD implantation is feasible for pacing and ventricular tachyarrhythmia control in patients with underlying atrial fibrillation.     

Tricuspid valve perforation by permanent pacemaker lead--a case report

Tricuspid valve perforation with pacemaker lead is one of the extremely rare complications of transvenous pacemaker implantation. Approximately all reported cases have been diagnosed at autopsy. The authors present a case of tricuspid valve perforation caused by pacemaker lead that was diagnosed during cardiac surgery and treated successfully by removing the lead and suturing the tricuspid valve.     

Pacemaker therapy in infants (author's transl)

Since April 1974 until January 1978 permanent pacemakers were implanted in 21 children. The patient age at the time of operation averaged 4.5 years; the youngest patient was 3 months old. Indications for pacemaker implantation were: congenital total a-v block (TAVB) (n = 4), sick syndrom (S-S-S) (n = 4), postoperative TAVB (n = 13). Cardiac failure was present in all patients despite optimal medical treatment. Pacemakers were implanted under general anesthesia and intubation. The stimulation electrodes were positioned by the transvenous route in 16 subjects and by direct fixation upon the ventricle and the atrium in 5 patients. 5 children obtained an atrial triggered, 14 patients R-inhibited demand pacemaker and 2 subjects an asynchronous pacemaker. After a mean observation time of 16.4 months mean pacemaker function is normal in 14 patients. 6 children died 1 to 33 months after implantation despite functioning pacemakers because of congestive heart failure. Pacemaker malfunction was observed in 4 patients. The type of malfunction induced: failure of the impulse generator (n = 2), dislodgement of the electrode (n = 2), threshold increase (n = 1). In 5 children generators were changed 9 to 36 months (m = 23 plus or minus 10) after implantation because of battery depletion. The use of the pacemakers in small children is connected with several specific problems: 1. Application of large generators is hazardous because of impending perforation and secondary infection. 2. Until now miniaturization of pacemakers decreases function time and therefore implies frequent surgical intervention. 3. Stretching and dislodgement of transvenous electrodes may occur due to growth of the child. 4. Threshold increase may limit the life-span of myocardial electrodes. 5. Physiological changes in natural frequency requires changes in stimulation rate. 6. To guarantee normal physical activity demand related adaptation of heart rate is necessary. Because of these reasons a pacemaker system for children should have the following criteria: low weight, small wolume, high energy capacity, atrial or programmable stimulation, a thin elastic perhaps coiled electrode.