Extreme pacemaker reel syndrome in an elderly patient with cognitive impairment

Twiddler's syndrome is a rare cause of pacemaker failure, where patient manipulation of the pulse generator results in lead dislodgement or retraction. Variations in manifestation have been identified including reel syndrome, where rotation occurs around the transverse axis resulting in coiling of the leads, and ratchet syndrome where arm movement results in lead displacement. Device manipulation leading to device failure has been documented in up to 1.7% of implants, particularly in patients with large pockets or mental disorders. Such complications have serious consequences, particularly in pacing-dependent patients where loss of capture may result in asystole. This article reviews the case of an 84-year-old patient presenting at 8-month pacemaker follow-up in complete heart block with no evidence of pacemaker function.