Pneumopericardium and pneumothorax contralateral to venous access site after permanent pacemaker implantation
- PMID: 14753631
- DOI: 10.1016/s1099-5129(03)00093-x
Pneumopericardium and pneumothorax contralateral to venous access site after permanent pacemaker implantation
Abstract
A 77-year-old female underwent implantation of a left-sided dual chamber permanent pacemaker for symptomatic bradycardia with active fixation leads. Eight hours after the procedure, the patient complained of shortness of breath and was found to have a 30% right pneumothorax on chest X-ray. Immediately, a chest tube was inserted, promptly relieving the symptoms. A CT scan of the chest revealed extrusion of the helix of the screw-in atrial lead, through the wall of the right atrial appendage. The helix was abutting a bulla in the right lung, the likely cause for pneumothorax and pneumopericardium. The atrial lead was explanted without incident.
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