Successful treatment of myocardial perforation and tamponade after temporary endocardial pacing

Myocardial perforation due to temporary transvenous pacing catheters in pediatric patients

Over a 13-year period, 18 pediatric patients received temporary transvenous pacing catheters for symptomatic bradycardia due to complete atrioventricular block or sinoatrial node dysfunction. Right ventricular wall perforation occurred in two patients. The utility of two-dimensional echocardiography in the detection and assessment of myocardial perforation by temporary pacing catheters is discussed.

Predictive value of ST segment elevation in cardiac pacing

In 366 pacemaker patients the influence of intracardiac ST segment elevation on the fate (displacement or perforation) of permanent cardiac pacemaker electrodes was studied. In one group of patients a retrospective analysis was carried out, the operator being aware of the degree of ST segment elevation and positioning the electrode to avoid very high or vey low values wherever possible. In the second group a prospective trial was carried out. The final electrode position was determined solely by fluoroscopy and electrical threshold, and the ST segment shift measured afterwards. The combined rates of electrode displacement and perforation did not differ between these groups. High levels of ST segment elevation, greater than 10 mV, were found to predispose to electrode perforation. On the other hand, low ST segments did not predict a displacement. It is concluded that the ideal positioning technique should seek a low electrical threshold, a stable position, and avoid high ST elevation.