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Postpericardiotomy syndrome and cardiac tamponade as a late complication after pacemaker implantation
M Spindler1, G Burrows, P Kowallik
1Department of Cardiology, Medizinische Universitätsklinik Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany. spindler@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
In a 78-year old woman, pacemaker implantation was complicated by a transient perforation of the endocardial lead. The patient was in stable condition for up to 7 weeks after implantation, after which pericardial effusion and subacute cardiac tamponade developed and pericardiocentesis became necessary. This case illustrates that even after initially uneventful pacemaker lead perforation, careful, long-term follow-up is necessary to recognize the potential development of late postpericardiotomy syndrome.
In a 78-year old woman, pacemaker implantation was complicated by a transient perforation of the endocardial lead. The patient was in stable condition for up to 7 weeks after implantation, after which pericardial effusion and subacute cardiac tamponade developed and pericardiocentesis became necessary. This case illustrates that even after initially uneventful pacemaker lead perforation, careful, long-term follow-up is necessary to recognize the potential development of late postpericardiotomy syndrome.