Pulmonary embolism after pacemaker implantation

Tex Heart Inst J. 2001;28(4):318-9.

Abstract

One day after implantation of a permanent pacemaker in an 82-year-old man, transthoracic echocardiography showed a mass in the right ventricle and a small pericardial effusion. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a mass attached to the pacemaker lead. Subcutaneous administration of enoxaparin was begun, and the patient remained free of symptoms for the duration of his hospital stay Follow-up echocardiography performed before discharge failed to show the right ventricular mass, but a lung perfusion scan revealed multiple bilateral perfusion defects consistent with pulmonary emboli. The patient was discharged on a regimen of enoxaparin for another 30 days. Two years later, he remained asymptomatic.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pacemaker, Artificial*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Embolism / etiology*
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Ultrasonography