Key result
Prednisolone resolves postcardiotomy syndrome following permanent pacemaker insertion.
Case Report (n=1)
Postcardiotomy syndrome is a rare complication of transvenous pacemaker insertion that responds well to corticosteroids and should be considered in patients presenting with fever and malaise post-implantation.
May warrant consideration in post-pacemaker fever; case report leaves open questions on incidence and steroid efficacy.
We describe a case of postcardiotomy syndrome following permanent pacemaker insertion. A 79-year-old woman presented with complete heart block. Following temporary pacing, a dual chamber permanent pacemaker was inserted. Two weeks later she developed fevers and malaise with an acute rise in inflammatory markers. After systemic infection had been carefully excluded, she was commenced on prednisolone with immediate benefit. Prednisolone was withdrawn over 2 months without recurrence of symptoms. Although the postcardiotomy syndrome is rare following transvenous pacemaker insertion it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fevers and malaise after implantation.
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Hargreaves et al. (1994) conducted a case report in Complete heart block (n=1). Permanent pacemaker insertion was evaluated on Postcardiotomy syndrome. A 79-year-old woman developed postcardiotomy syndrome two weeks after permanent pacemaker insertion, which was successfully treated with a 2-month course of prednisolone.
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