Late perforation of a passively fixated pacemaker lead through the right ventricle. A report and review of literature

Abstract

Lead perforation is one of the serious complications associated with cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators. Late perforations – occurring more than one month after placement – are exceedingly rare and are usually more associated with actively fixed leads rather than passively fixed tined leads. We present a case of blunt ended tined lead perforation after 4 months of implantation managed by a two-step hybrid minimally invasive approach consisting of mini-thoracotomy and lead tip transection, followed by trans-venous lead extraction.<Learning objective: Late perforation of a pacemaker lead (occurring more than one month after placement) is an exceedingly rare complication and is usually more associated with actively fixed leads rather than passively fixed tined leads. We describe management of a blunt-ended tined lead perforation by a two-step hybrid minimally invasive approach consisting of mini-thoracotomy and lead tip transection, followed by trans-venous lead extraction.>