Unintended Harm and Benefit of the Implantable Defibrillator in an Unfortunate 19-Year-Old Male: Featuring a Sequence of Rare Life-threatening Complications of Cardiac Procedures

Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J. 2013 Aug 1;13(4):151-6. doi: 10.1016/s0972-6292(16)30650-7. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

All procedures have inherent risk. Our patient endured a sequence of rare life-threatening complications from commonly preformed procedures. The sequence of these complications was; large pericardial effusion post implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation with echocardiographic signs of tamponade, left main narrowing post radiofrequency ablation, and late stent thrombosis post coronary intervention with a bare metal stent. All these occurred to one unfortunate young man. Furthermore, our patient demonstrated an unintended benefit of ICD which saved his life.

Keywords: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; coronary injury; pericardial effusion; radiofrequency ablation.