Medical Must-See: Pacemaker lead races into pleural space
The right ventricular lead had perforated the interventricular septum and had escaped through the right ventricular apex.
This 78-year-old patient initially appeared to tolerate her dual-chamber pacemaker placement well, without complications.
That was until she returned to the hospital two weeks later with a cough and a feeling of pressure on her chest.
Her history included multiple chronic conditions such as sick sinus syndrome with tachy-brady syndrome. Pacemaker interrogation revealed a right ventricular lead malfunction, which the doctors initially worried was a lead fracture.
Chest radiography showed the right ventricular lead was intact but had migrated, while also revealing a small left pneumothorax. The patient’s vital signs were within normal limits.
