Massive Tension Hemothorax After Pacemaker Implantation

Eldon Matthia1, Ralph Matar2, Ellery Altshuler1

  • 1Internal Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, USA.

Cureus
|September 13, 2021
PubMed

A case of an 85-year-old male on apixaban and clopidogrel undergoing pacemaker implantation is described. After procedure he developed unilateral tension hemothorax and required emergent drainage and exploratory thoracotomy. No vascular, cardiac, or pulmonary source was identified. After multidisciplinary discussions, it was speculated that spontaneous intercostal vessel rupture due to forceful coughing and elevated blood pressure during the procedure was the most likely cause of bleeding.

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