Cardiac Strangulation in a Neonatal Case: A Rare Complication of Permanent Epicardial Pacemaker Leads

A newborn female underwent pacemaker implantation with epicardial pacing leads for the treatment of bradycardia caused by congenital atrioventricular block. At 10 months after pacemaker implantation, she was admitted with congestive heart failure. The epicardial leads were seen to encircle the heart, and myocardial ischemia was suggested. During cardiac catheterization she collapsed: emergency operation was performed, but she died on postoperative day 6.

Epicardial pacemaker leads - Cardiac strangulation - Neonate - Congenital atrioventricular block

References

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• 4 Perry J C, Nihill M R, Ludomirsky A. et al . The pulmonary artery lasso: epicardial pacing lead causing right ventricular outflow obstruction.  PACE. 1991;  14 1018-23

Received for Publication: November 24, 1998