Pulmonary emboli from a platelet-rich thrombus attached to a pacemaker electrode

A patient with recurrent, fatal pulmonary emboli originating from thrombus attached to a permanently-implanted pacemaker electrode is described. While most thromboemboli are composed predominantly of fibrin and erythrocytes, histologic and immunologic studies showed this thrombus to be rich in platelets. A possible therapeutic approach to this rare situation is discussed.