Cardiac strangulation: An atypical complication from epicardial pacemaker leads in a newborn

Nabil Tahhan, Papa Salmane Ba, Khaled Hadeed, Yves Dulac, Fabio Cuttone, Bertrand Leobon

Annals of Pediatric Cardiology 2018 11(2):191-193

We report a rare and serious complication of cardiac strangulation arising from the implantation of epicardial pacing leads in a newborn. Patient's follow-up 9-month postsurgery revealed compression under the pulmonary valve annulus by a pacemaker lead, causing progressive stenosis of the right ventricular outflow tract. The epicardial leads were replaced to relieve compression, and stenosis of the right ventricular outflow tract was rectified. Pacemaker implantation in newborns is not without challenges; epicardial leads should be carefully positioned to avoid any compression of cardiac structures.
via Annals of Pediatric Cardiology