Subacute pacemaker lead migration caused cardiac perforation extending into lung tissue and pneumothorax, illustrating a rare but serious pacemaker complication.
Demonstrates a rare and severe complication of pacemaker placement involving extensive lead migration and perforation into the lung.
Cardiac perforation with extracardiac extension by a pacemaker lead is a rare but serious complication of pacemaker placement. We present a unique case with imaging of a patient who underwent pacemaker placement complicated by subacute migration of the pacemaker lead, resulting in perforation involving interventricular septum, right ventricular apex, pericardium, epicardial fat, pleura and left upper lobe parenchyma with left-sided pneumothorax.
Liang et al. (2026) studied this question. Subacute pacemaker lead migration caused cardiac perforation extending into lung tissue and pneumothorax, illustrating a rare but serious pacemaker complication.