Abstract

VARELA BARCA, Laura et al. Iatrogenic rupture of permanent pacemaker electrodes while performing a median sternotomy: a case report. Medicas UIS [online]. 2016, vol.29, n.3, pp.95-99. ISSN 0121-0319.  https://doi.org/10.18273/revmed.v29n3-2016010.

Median sternotomy is still the gold-standard surgical approach in cardiac surgery. Even correctly performed, the sternum median opening presents complications in an incidence of 1-5% of cases comprising in severity from infection of the surgical wound to the injury of intrathoracic structures. We describe a case in which the pacemaker leads were broken after median sternotomy because of the brachiocephalic vein fibrosis. Due to the absence of similar items in the literature and the widespread use of sternotomy in patients with permanent pacemakers, we intended to reduce associated injuries by posting a rare case of iatrogenic injury during sternal opening with few precedents in the literature. MÉD.UIS. 2016;29(3):95-9.

Keywords : Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Artificial Pacemaker; Sternotomy; Iatrogenic Disease..

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