Introduction: Cardiac perforation is a rare, but potentially serious, complication of pacemaker implantation that may develop days or weeks after implantation.
Presentation of case: In the current case, 92-year-old man underwent permanent pacemaker implantation, but he presented 3 weeks later with severe symptoms. Computed tomography showed protrusion of the tip of the ventricular electrode through the right ventricle and into the chest wall. During an urgent surgical intervention, the lead was disconnected and extracted. A sealing hemostatic device and an hemostatic patch were applied to repair the ventricle; the procedure was uneventfull.
Discussion: This case demonstrates how the correct diagnosis of ventricular perforation is crucial, and should be followed immediately by surgical planning.
Conclusion: The hemostatic patch is a valuable alternative to sutures in patients with thin and fragile ventricular wall, unable to undergo stitching.
Keywords: Chest wall; Computed tomography; Hemothorax; Pacemaker; Surgery.
Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.