Implantable cardioverter defibrillator patch erosion in a heart transplant patient

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 72; no. 1; pp. 261 - 263
• Main Authors: Chilukuri, Suneel, Herlihy, James P, Massumkhani, G.Ali, Duncan, J.Michael, Frazier, O.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Defibrillators, Implantable; Electrodes; Emergency and intensive cardiocirculatory care. Cardiogenic shock. Coronary intensive care; Foreign-Body Migration - diagnostic imaging; Foreign-Body Migration - etiology; Foreign-Body Migration - surgery; Heart Transplantation; Hemoptysis - diagnostic imaging; Hemoptysis - etiology; Hemoptysis - surgery; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung Abscess - diagnostic imaging; Lung Abscess - etiology; Lung Abscess - surgery; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications - diagnostic imaging; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - surgery; Reoperation; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Tachycardia, Ventricular - surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Heart; Human; Intensive cardiocirculatory care; Pathophysiology; Respiratory disease; Migration; Lung; Instrumentation therapy; Transplantation; Homotransplantation; Ablation; Hemorrhage; Case study; Hemoptysis; Treatment; Implanted; Surgery; Complication; Defibrillation; Patch; Defibrillator; Erosion
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(00)02566-2

A 57-year-old man who had received an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator and subsequent orthotopic heart transplant presented to medical attention for hemoptysis. The hemoptysis was caused by the migration of the left ventricular patch of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which had been left in place at the time of orthotopic heart transplant. The patch had eroded into the left lung. We recommend that implantable cardioverter defibrillators be removed completely at the time of heart transplantation to prevent subsequent complications.