Related Experiment Videos
Colonic perforation following intraoperative temporary pacemaker implantation
Parind M Oza1, Richard B Reiling
1Department of Surgery, Easton Hospital, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042, USA. drpoza@yahoo.com
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|April 29, 2003
Summary
A pacemaker lead perforated a patient's colon after heart surgery. This rare complication, causing abdominal free air, requires medical suspicion in post-operative patients with temporary cardiac pacing systems.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Medical Device Complications
Background:
- A 73-year-old man developed increasing abdominal free air one week post-surgery.
- The patient had undergone aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting.
- Intraoperative temporary pacemaker implantation was performed during the cardiac surgery.
Observation:
- Laparoscopic exploration was conducted due to the patient's abdominal free air and peritoneal signs.
- The investigation revealed that pacemaker wires had perforated the left transverse colon.
Findings:
- This case represents a previously unreported complication of pacemaker lead placement.
- Colonic perforation secondary to pacemaker lead migration was confirmed.
Implications:
- Physicians should consider colonic perforation as a potential complication in patients presenting with abdominal free air after cardiac surgery with pacemaker placement.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing this rare but serious adverse event.
- This case highlights the importance of careful lead management during and after cardiac device implantation.