Malposition of transvenous pacing lead in the left ventricle

Malposition of pacemaker leads has been described in several locations but rarely in the left ventricle. The incidence and clinical course of this pacemaker complication are unknown. We describe clinical, electrocardiographic, chest X ray, and echocardiographic findings in four patients in whom the transvenous pacing lead was inadvertently placed through the interatrial septum and mitral valve into the left ventricle. In these patients, lead misplacement was not recognized at the time of implantation and lead malposition was diagnosed a mean of 2 years later. All four patients had right bundle branch block configuration paced complexes. In retrospect, chest X rays suggested atypical lead position in all, but the initial posterior-anterior and lateral chest X rays were misinterpreted and contributed to the delay in diagnosis. When lead misplacement in the left ventricle was considered it was confirmed by two-dimensional echocardiography. One patient subsequently presented with a stroke and the remainder were diagnosed when they presented with other unrelated problems. Pacing thresholds were normal at the time of implantation and behaved normally during follow-up. The patient presenting with stroke was anticoagulated and the other three have been managed expectantly without anticoagulation. Diagnosis of left ventricular lead malposition is not difficult but requires a high index of suspicion. A 12-lead ECG and posterior-anterior and lateral chest X rays after implantation can be diagnostic. Patients with pacing lead in the left ventricle may remain asymptomatic with normal lead function during long-term follow-up. Anticoagulation should be considered when this problem comes to attention for the first time during follow-up.