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Pacing lead fracture after a deceleration injury
J G Grieco1, P J Scanlon, R Pifarré
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|March 1, 1989
Summary
Pacemaker malfunction can be fatal. Physicians must suspect lead fracture in trauma patients with permanent pacemakers, as illustrated by a case of vehicular deceleration injury.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Trauma Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Permanent pacemaker systems are crucial for managing cardiac arrhythmias.
- Trauma patients with pacemakers require vigilant monitoring for potential device complications.
- Acute pacemaker malfunction poses a significant risk to patient survival.
Observation:
- A case involving a patient with a permanent pacing system who sustained a vehicular deceleration injury is presented.
- The patient experienced a transvenous pacemaker lead fracture as a result of the trauma.
- This highlights a specific, potentially lethal complication in trauma scenarios.
Findings:
- Transvenous pacemaker lead fracture can occur following significant physical trauma, such as vehicular deceleration.
- The fracture represents a critical failure of the pacing system, leading to malfunction.
- A high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose this complication promptly.
Implications:
- Physicians must consider pacemaker lead integrity in the assessment of traumatized patients with permanent pacing systems.
- Early diagnosis and management of pacemaker lead fractures are essential to prevent potentially lethal outcomes.
- This case underscores the importance of considering device integrity in trauma evaluations.