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Cardiac strangulation from epicardial pacemaker leads: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

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Abstract

Cardiac strangulation from epicardial leads is a rare but potentially lethal complication associated with epicardial pacemaker implantation in growing children. Early diagnosis and quick lead removal are required to rescue patients suffering from cardiac strangulation. In April 2013, the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery, Japan Society of Arrhythmia and Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Society published information about cardiac strangulation from epicardial leads in children on the home page of each organization’s website to increase awareness of this condition Here, we review ten previously reported cases and discuss cardiac strangulation from the point of view of the pediatric cardiologist.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8666, Japan

    Daiji Takeuchi

  2. Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan

    Yasuko Tomizawa

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  1. Daiji Takeuchi
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  2. Yasuko Tomizawa
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Correspondence to Daiji Takeuchi.

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Takeuchi, D., Tomizawa, Y. Cardiac strangulation from epicardial pacemaker leads: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 63, 22–29 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-014-0483-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-014-0483-x

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