Clinical case of asymptomatic perforation of right ventricle during permanent pacemaker implantation

The present paper discusses one of the serious complications of electrocardiostimulator implantation: electrode perforation of the right ventricle wall, a condition that can occur in both the early and late postoperative periods. The latter occurs less frequently, and the patient may be asymptomatic; this results in an adverse effect on the patient’s quality of life and disease prognosis. Knowledge about the symptoms of late perforation and algorithms to examine patients suspected to have this complication contributes to timely surgical intervention as well as prevention of heart failure progression and fatal outcomes. This paper describes a clinical case of right ventricular perforation 1.5 years after electrocardiostimulator implantation, wherein, despite the absence of pronounced clinical symptoms, the patient was successfully diagnosed with pacemaker testing, Holter diagnostics, echocardiography and computed tomography of thoracic organs. Myocardial damage was accompanied by small left-hand bone-diaphragm hydrotorax and hydropericardium. The risk factors of perforation in the present case were low body weight and age. In the course of the surgical operation performed with the exact observance of the chosen technique, the integrity of the myocardium of the right ventricle and the function of the electrocardiostimulator were restored. Thus, the life-threatening consequences of the described complication were prevented.