Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Translational Rabbit Model of Chronic Cardiac Pacing
06:14

Translational Rabbit Model of Chronic Cardiac Pacing

Published on: January 6, 2023

3.0K

How sweet is the pacemaker?

I Merinopoulos1, S O'Toole, J N Porter

  • 1I Merinopoulos, Department of Cardiology, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge CB23 3RE, UK. Email ioannis.merinopoulos@doctors.org.uk.

The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
|October 17, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Diagnosing pacemaker infections is challenging due to vague symptoms. This case highlights chronic pacemaker wire infection presenting as Sweet's syndrome, a rare sign of infective endocarditis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Pacemaker infections pose diagnostic challenges, often presenting with non-specific symptoms long after device implantation.
  • Chronic, low-grade sepsis from undetected pacemaker infections can lead to severe multisystem disease, increasing mortality and morbidity.

Observation:

  • This report details a case of chronic pacemaker wire infection.
  • The infection eventually manifested as Sweet's syndrome, an uncommon presentation.

Findings:

  • Sweet's syndrome is a rare but significant manifestation of infective endocarditis.
  • Identifying the pacemaker as the source of sepsis is crucial for effective treatment.

Implications:

  • A high index of suspicion is necessary for diagnosing pacemaker-related sepsis.
  • Early identification and treatment of pacemaker infections can prevent severe systemic complications and improve patient outcomes.
Keywords:
Sweet’s syndromechronic sepsisfrailtypacemaker lead endocarditis

More Related Videos

Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy As a Chronic Heart Failure Model in Swine10:08

Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy As a Chronic Heart Failure Model in Swine

Published on: February 17, 2018

12.6K
Programmed Electrical Stimulation in Mice07:29

Programmed Electrical Stimulation in Mice

Published on: May 26, 2010

20.3K

Related Concept Videos

Pulse rhythm01:30

Pulse rhythm

Pulse rhythm refers to the pattern of pulsations within specific intervals, offering valuable insights into the regularity or irregularity of the heart's beats as observed through the pattern of pulsation within specific intervals. A regular pulse exhibits a consistent heart rate with uniform waveforms and pulsation force, variations of which can be classified as normal, weak, or bounding.
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac...
1.6K
Heart Sounds01:15

Heart Sounds

Heart sounds are generated by the turbulence in blood flow due to the closing of heart valves. These sounds are best perceived slightly away from the valves, where the blood flow disseminates the sound.
Auscultation is the process of listening to these internal body sounds using a stethoscope. The heart produces four types of sounds, but only two—S1 and S2—can usually be heard with a stethoscope.
S1, also known as the "lub" sound, is caused by the closure of atrioventricular (A-V)...
3.6K
Conduction System of the Heart01:19

Conduction System of the Heart

Autorhythmicity is a term that refers to the heart's inherent ability to generate electrical signals and instigate muscle contractions. This self-regulating conduction system within the heart consists of two key components: the pacemaker cells and specialized conducting cells.
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...
12.8K
Conduction System of the Heart01:20

Conduction System of the Heart

The cardiac conduction system produces and transmits electrical impulses that prompt myocardial contraction, ensuring efficient heart function. This intricate system ensures that the heart beats in a coordinated and efficient manner, beginning with the atria and then the ventricles. The conduction system optimizes cardiac output by maintaining this precise sequence, which is crucial for adequate blood circulation.
This system relies on the unique properties of nodal and Purkinje cells:...
5.9K
Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm01:19

Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm

The normal cardiac rhythm is a synchronized electrical activity that facilitates the regular and coordinated contraction of the heart muscle. This process is essential for efficient blood circulation throughout the body. The fundamental elements involved in establishing and maintaining this rhythm include the unique electrical properties of cardiac muscle cells, the sinoatrial (SA) node's pacemaker function, the specialized conducting system, and the ionic mechanisms underlying each phase...
7.7K
Cardiac Action Potential01:30

Cardiac Action Potential

Cardiac action potentials are essential for proper heart function, enabling the rhythmic contractions needed for adequate blood circulation. Nodal cells and Purkinje fibers, specialized for electrical conduction, generate these action potentials.
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials
11.3K