Description
A previously healthy, 46-year-old man presented with an episode of syncopal ventricular tachycardia secondary to arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. A dual-chamber implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) was implanted without complication. Post-implantation ICD pulse generator box and lead position were confirmed with a plain chest radiograph (figure 1). Six months later, an increase in the device’s lead impedance was detected on routine pacemaker check. A repeat chest radiograph was taken and identified rotation of the ICD pulse generator box within its skin pocket, with coiling of the device leads and associated lead retraction in the heart (figure 2). This characteristic rotation of the device and coiling of its leads is known as Twiddler’s Syndrome and results in permanent pacemaker malfunction.1
Figure 1.
Posterior–anterior erect plain chest radiograph showing a dual-chamber ICD 1 day post-implantation, with appropriate lead positioning.
Figure 2.
Posterior–anterior erect plain chest radiograph showing a dual-chamber ICD 6 months post-implantation. There is ICD pulse generator box rotation within its subcutaneous pocket with associated coiling of device leads and lead retraction in the heart.
Twiddler’s syndrome, first described in 1968,2 is a very rare complication of a permanent pacemaker or ICD implantation occurring with an estimated frequency of 0.07%.3 It usually occurs within the first year following device implantation and is due to patient manipulation of the pacemaker pulse generator box within its skin pocket. Female, obese and elderly patients are at increased risk due to lose subcutaneous tissue. Complications include a failure to pace the heart, diaphragmatic twitching due to ipsilateral phrenic nerve pacing and arm twitching due to brachial plexus stimulation.1 In the case of ICDs, inappropriate antitachycardia therapies, including shocks, can result.4 Treatment requires surgical repositioning and suture fixation of the pulse generator box and replacement of dislodged leads. At ICD revision in this case, the leads were clearly damaged; they were removed and replaced, and the ICD pulse generator was placed in a subpectoral pocket to prevent further device displacement.
Learning points.
Twiddler’s syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis for pacemaker malfunction.
A chest X-ray should be performed to demonstrate characteristic lead displacement in the heart.
Treatment requires surgical repositioning of the pulse generator box and replacement of damaged leads.
Footnotes
Contributors: BMB and AC: drafted the manuscript. BMB, AC and FM: involved in the editing and proof reading of the manuscript for final submission. All authors certify that they have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content in line with criteria set out.
Funding: The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests: None declared.
Provenance and peer review: Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Patient consent for publication: Obtained.
References
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