The return of a disappearing entity: Dressler's syndrome after transvenous pacemaker implantation

Abstract

SUMMARYA 76-year-old woman with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block was admitted for biventricular pacemaker implantation. The procedure was complicated by perforation of a coronary sinus tributary vein and ensuing pericardial effusion without tamponade. Three months later, she presented with fever, pleuritic chest pain and functional class worsening. Pericardial and pleural effusions were noted. Sterile blood and pleural fluid cultures and failure to respond to antibiotic therapy led to the hypothesis of a Dressler-like syndrome. The patient improved clinically with a short course of steroid therapy and was discharged on colchicine. A chest X-ray performed after 2 months showed a complete remission of pleural effusion. BACKGROUND

Uncommon presentation of postcardiac injury syndrome induced by radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: Only pulmonary parenchymal inflammation

“…The postcardiac injury syndrome (PCIS) is characterized by inflammation of the pericardium, pleura, and pulmonary parenchyma following myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, blunt chest trauma, percutaneous left ventricle puncture, implantation of a pacemaker, and catheter ablation [1]. The literature contains information regarding the pericardium, pleural, and pulmonary manifestations of PCIS [2]. We report a rare case in which radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation led to the development of pulmonary parenchymal inflammation but no pleuropericarditis.…”