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A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Lead Failure due to Twiddler Syndrome
Kirsten M Kooiman1, Tom F Brouwer1, Vokko P Van Halm1
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Heart Center, Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Abstract:
We present a case of Twiddler syndrome in a patient with a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD). The patient presented herself to the outpatient clinic with pain in the left chest. Chest x-ray confirmed Twiddler syndrome and ICD read-out revealed lead failure resulting in absent heart rhythm sensing in one vector. The lead and pulse generator were extracted and a new S-ICD system was reimplanted submuscular underneath the serratus anterior muscle to prevent reoccurrence. Lead investigation revealed an insulation defect caused by excessive mechanical stress.
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