Fatal outcome arising from use of a sutureless "corkscrew" epicardial pacing electrode inserted into apex of left ventricle

R J Vecht; C J Fontaine; J W Bradfield

doi:10.1136/hrt.38.12.1359

. 1976 Dec;38(12):1359–1362. doi: 10.1136/hrt.38.12.1359

Fatal outcome arising from use of a sutureless "corkscrew" epicardial pacing electrode inserted into apex of left ventricle.

R J Vecht, C J Fontaine, J W Bradfield

PMCID: PMC483181 PMID: 1008980

Abstract

A 59-year-old man is described in whom the insertion of an epicardial sutureless "corkscrew" electrode resulted in fatal ventricular perforation. Fatal myocardial perforation can occur with this electrode and the apex of the left ventricle should never be used as the site of insertion. Necropsy also showed that the transvenous right ventricular electrode, inserted one year previously, had penetrated a tricuspid leaflet. This could have accounted for the ensuing pacing failure.