Pulmonary embolisation of retained transvenous pacemaker electrode.

Abstract

When removal of an endocardial pacemaker electrode became necessary in a patient with congestive myocardiopathy, it proved to be incarcerated. Therefore, a portion of it had to be left in site after cutting the external end of the pacing catheter. Duringfollow-up examinations the electrode was seen to migrate in the large veins andfinally was found embolized into a pulmonary artery. While there have been publications on the migration of retained pacemaker electrodes before, to our knowledge this represents the first case reported with pulmonary embolization of the migrating fragment.

A rare complication of transvenous lead extraction - pulmonary embolization with a broken distal lead fragment

“…In the literature we can find reports of only a few similar events with a different broken lead fragment length [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The first case was described in 1977 [4].…”

“…In the literature we can find reports of only a few similar events with a different broken lead fragment length [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The first case was described in 1977 [4]. In five reported cases the lead fragment was left in the pulmonary vascular bed and the patients remained under observation due to lack of clinical signs [4][5][6][7].…”

“…The first case was described in 1977 [4]. In five reported cases the lead fragment was left in the pulmonary vascular bed and the patients remained under observation due to lack of clinical signs [4][5][6][7]. Three patients only underwent the procedure of remaining lead fragment extraction using transvenous tools such as an Amplatz goose neck snare kit for intravascular foreign body retrieval, basket or lasso catheters [8][9][10].…”

Inadvertent Transarterial Pacemaker Insertion: An Unusual Complication

“…10 luly-August 1987, Part I 1. The electrode may be advanced into the pulmonary circulation and then withdrawn as far as is needed to maintain a position in the RV;…”

Functionless retained pacing leads in the cardiovascular system. A complication of pacemaker treatment.

“…The seriousness of this rare complication depends on the size of the portion of the migrated lead and where it became lodged. Migration into the inferior vena caval2202' and the pulmonary vascular system'2 22 has been reported.…”