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Updated: May 22, 2026

Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): An Intervention Sequence
Published on: December 23, 2022
[Coronary ventricular fistula as a late complication of permanent pacing]
Franco Alberto Ferrari1, Giuseppe De Angelis, Vincenzo Capacchione
1Ospedale di Rho, A.O. G Salvini, Garbagnate Milanese.
Insights
A rare complication of a tined ventricular catheter led to a coronary-right ventricular fistula. This discovery was made during coronary angiography for atypical chest pain.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Cardiac Imaging
Background:
- Tined ventricular catheters are used for cardiac pacing.
- Myocardial penetration by implanted devices can lead to rare complications.
- Atypical chest pain necessitates thorough cardiac investigation.
Observation:
- Coronary angiography revealed an abnormal connection between a coronary artery and the right ventricle.
- This fistula was identified as a consequence of prior myocardial injury from a ventricular catheter.
Findings:
- The study identified a rare coronary-right ventricular fistula.
- The fistula resulted from myocardial penetration by a tined ventricular catheter.
- Diagnosis was confirmed via coronary angiography.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare but serious complication of cardiac device implantation.
- Awareness of this complication is crucial for clinicians managing patients with cardiac devices.
- Coronary angiography remains a key diagnostic tool for evaluating complex cardiac issues.
Abstract:
A coronary angiography performed for the occurrence of atypical chest pain allowed us to discover a coronary-right ventricular fistula as a rare complication of myocardial penetration by a tined ventricular catheter implanted some years earlier.
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