Pacemaker lead malposition in the left atrial roof is masked by normal pacing thresholds

Abstract

Pacemaker lead malpositioning with subsequent cardiac tamponade is a rare, but serious adverse event. We herein report a case of pacemaker lead malpositioning in a 76-year old female caucasian patient. The lead was malpositioned into the roof of the left atrium after perforation of the superior vena cava, resulting in cardiac tamponade. After fast surgical revision and an uneventful post-operative period, the patient was discharged in excellent condition. © 2014 Rath et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.