Case Report (n=1)
Subacute right ventricular perforation after pacemaker implantation can present with cloudy pericardial effusion mimicking infection, but can be successfully managed with prompt surgical repair.
We report an 87-year-old woman with right ventricular perforation due to a permanent pacemaker lead detected 4-days after implantation. The pacemaker lead was seen to perforate through the myocardium and pericardium and to reach the left pleural cavity. We removed the wire surgically by median sternotomy. The pericardial effusion was cloudy and yellowish, suggesting infection. However, no bacteria were detected by bacterial cultures of the pericardial effusion and pacing wire. The patient developed neither mediastinitis nor sepsis after the operation, and a new pacemaker was implanted safely one month later.
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Koyama et al. (2012) conducted a case report in Right ventricular perforation after pacemaker implantation (n=1). Surgical removal of pacing wire and right ventricular repair was evaluated on Clinical recovery and resolution of perforation.
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