PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - H Krug
AU  - F Zerbe
TI  - Major venous thrombosis: a complication of transvenous pacemaker electrodes.
AID  - 10.1136/hrt.44.2.158
DP  - 1980 Aug 01
TA  - British Heart Journal
PG  - 158--161
VI  - 44
IP  - 2
4099  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/44/2/158.short
4100  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/44/2/158.full
SO  - Heart1980 Aug 01; 44
AB  - Two patients with transvenous permanent pacemakers developed thrombosis and occlusion of the superior vena cava around a broken pacing wire, with clot extending into the innominate, subclavian, and axillary veins. Both patients had symptoms and signs of the superior vena cava syndrome which failed to resolve despite anticoagulant and thrombolytic treatment. Obstruction to venous flow, however, was relieved in large measure by the development of collateral venous channels. One of the patients has shown mild symptoms for two years and the other for two months of follow-up. It is suggested that anticoagulant prophylaxis should be given to all patients with a broken wire which cannot easily be removed.