Transvenous extraction of a five year−old ventricular lead inadvertently implanted in the left ventricle

Abstract

Inadvertent lead implantation into the left ventricle (LV) is a rare but serious complication of permanent pacing and should be diagnosed as soon as possible. We report a case of a patient with a pacemaker pocket infection with sepsis and two ventricular leads — one old electrode abandoned in the right ventricle and another one unintentionally implanted via patent foramen ovale into the LV. Both leads were extracted percutaneously, although the procedure was complicated by a minor ischaemic stroke.
Kardiol Pol 2011; 69, 6: 625–628