Pulmonary Thromboembolism in the Presence of an Endocardiac Pacing Catheter

Abstract

Thrombosis in the right atrium and ventricle along the course of an implanted catheter pacemaker is a rare occurrence. Subsequent pulmonary emboli complicated congestive heart failure in our patient. Such a complication should be considered when congestive heart failure becomes a prominent problem in patients with implanted catheter pacemaking systems. Prophylactic anticoagulant therapy is not recommended because the problem is still rare in proportion to the number of implanted catheters.