Erosion of implantable cardioverter defibrillator patch electrode into airways: an unusual cause of recurrent hemoptysis

Chest. 1998 Jan;113(1):252-4. doi: 10.1378/chest.113.1.252.

Abstract

A 74-year-old man presented with a 9-month history of recurrent hemoptysis. He had implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patch electrodes placed 4 years before. A chest x-ray film showed crinkling of his posteriorly placed ICD patch which also appeared to have separated from his ventricle on a CT scan of the chest. Bronchoscopy localized the ICD patch electrode to the lower lobe of the left lung. He underwent a lobectomy and was treated with antibiotics at home. In patients with known ICD implantation, patch erosion into the airways should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent hemoptysis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Airway Obstruction / diagnosis
  • Airway Obstruction / etiology
  • Airway Obstruction / surgery
  • Bronchi / injuries*
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Defibrillators, Implantable / adverse effects*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Foreign-Body Migration / complications*
  • Foreign-Body Migration / diagnosis
  • Foreign-Body Migration / surgery
  • Hemoptysis / diagnosis
  • Hemoptysis / etiology*
  • Hemoptysis / surgery
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / diagnosis
  • Lung Diseases / etiology*
  • Lung Diseases / surgery
  • Male
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Recurrence