Something that Touches your Heart: an Unusual Case of Abdominal Clonic Movements

Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2019 Jan 8:8:618. doi: 10.7916/D8CR7BCR. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Background: Rarely, cardiac pacemaker implant can lead to the development of involuntary hyperkinetic movement disorders localized to the abdominal wall or the diaphragm.

Phenomenology shown: We report a case of a 79-year-old female who developed rhythmic continuous clonic right abdominal movements caused by cardiac pacemaker lead dislodgement.

Educational value: Our case highlights that, in the differential diagnosis of hyperkinetic abdominal movement disorder, the presence and the possible pathogenic role of a cardiac pacemaker should be kept in mind.

Keywords: Abdominal; Twiddler’s syndrome; diaphragmatic; myoclonus; pacemaker.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Muscles / diagnostic imaging*
  • Aged
  • Equipment Failure*
  • Female
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Hyperkinesis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hyperkinesis / etiology*
  • Pacemaker, Artificial / adverse effects*