Care the epicardial pacemaker wires

Abstract

A patient with previous CABG was hospitalized for fever and Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia without cardiac involvement. After appropriate antibiotic cycle, the patient recovered and was discharged. Six months later, symptoms and bacteraemia relapsed. A small intriguing 'cystic' mass was visualized in the right atrium by echocardiography. Once again, was discharged after successful antibiotic treatment. Four months later, symptoms and Staphylococcus bacteraemia reappeared with increasing mass size and surgery was decided. Intraoperatively, it was perceived that the mass was related to an epicardial pacemaker wire. Retained epicardial wires should be remembered in endocarditis evaluation.

Keywords: Cardiac imaging; Endocarditis; Epicardial pacemaker wire.