Delayed presentation of foreign body reaction secondary to retained pacing wires

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 66; no. 2; pp. 550 - 551
• Main Authors: Chung, Darryl A., Smith, Edward E.J.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.08.1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Coronary Artery Bypass; Female; Foreign-Body Reaction - etiology; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pacemaker, Artificial - adverse effects; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Time Factors; Human; Late; Abscess; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary heart disease; Electrodes; Case study; Persistence; Instrumental stimulation; Treatment; Aortocoronary; Bypass; Surgery; Complication; Foreign body

Temporary pacing wires are often left behind, assumed not to cause problems. We present 2 cases of delayed presentation of anterior mediastinal foreign body reaction secondary to retained pacing wires after coronary operations performed more than 5 years previously.