A fifty-two-year-old man received a dual-chamber pacemaker with appropriate positioning of the leads via the right subclavian vein. About four days later he was noted to have developed a large right-sided pneumothorax. The roentgenogram showed displacement of the heart to the left and apparent displacement of the pacemaker leads with loss of the normal “J” configuration of the atrial electrode. On resolution of the pneumothorax, the electrode configurations returned to normal.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. Borja AR: Current status of infraclavicular subclavian vein catheterization. Am Thorac Surg13:615-624, 1972.
2.
2. James PM, Myers RJ: Central venous pressure monitoring: Complications and new techniques. Am Thorac Surg39:75-81,1973.
3.
3. Aubaniac R: IV injection intravenous sous-claviculaire: Advantages et technique. Presse Med60:1456-1456, 1952.
4.
4. Wilson JW, Grow JB, Demong CV, et al: Central venous pressure in optional blood volume maintenance. Arch Surg85:563-563, 1962.
5.
5. Grier D, Cook PG, Hartnell GG: Chest radiographs after permanent pacing. Are they really necessary?Clin Radiol42:244-249, 1990.
6.
6. Mitchell SE, Clark RA: Complications of central venous catheterization. Am J Roentgenol133:467-476, 1979.
7.
7. Hearne SF, Maloney JD: Pacemaker system failure secondary to air entrapment within the pulse generator pocket. Chest82:651-654, 1982.
8.
8. Smith SA, Weissberg, PL, Tan L: Permanent pacemaker failure due to surgical emphysema. Br Heart J54:220-221, 1985.
