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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Rep 2015; 04(01): 049-051
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1395166
Case Report: Cardiac
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Fistula Formation 6 Years after Removal of Infected Pacemaker Leads

Thomas Schroeter
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
,
Philipp Kiefer
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
,
Matthias Sauer
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
,
Friedrich Wilhelm Mohr
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

24 July 2014

10 September 2014

Publication Date:
17 February 2015 (online)

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Abstract

We describe a case of a male patient who presented with a chronic ulcer below the left clavicle. Six years before the present admission a permanent pacemaker, including leads, was explanted related to endocarditis. The initial working hypothesis suspected an infected sebaceous gland as the cause of ulceration. After two periods of unsuccessful surgical treatment of the gland, further examination identified a small pacemaker lead fragment underneath the articulation between sternum and clavicle as a possible reason.

Keywords

endocarditis - pacemaker - fistula - infection
 

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