Bilateral sternobronchial fistula after coronary surgery – are the retained epicardial pacing wires responsible? a case report

doi:10.1186/1749-8090-4-26

Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Volume 4

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Sakellaridis T
Argiriou M
Panagiotakopoulos V
Charitos C

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Panagiotakopoulos V
Charitos C
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Case report

Bilateral sternobronchial fistula after coronary surgery – are the retained epicardial pacing wires responsible? a case report

Timothy Sakellaridis , Michalis Argiriou , Victor Panagiotakopoulos and Christos Charitos

2nd Cardiac Surgery Department, "Evagelismos" General Hospital, Athens, Greece

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery 2009, 4:26doi:10.1186/1749-8090-4-26


Published:	24 June 2009

Abstract

Background

Temporary epicardial pacing wires are routinely used during cardiac surgery; they are dependable in controlling postoperative arrhythmias and are associated with low morbitity.

Case report

We report a case of sternobronchial fistula formation induced by the existence of retained epicardial pacing wires in a patient who underwent coronary surgery ten years ago.

Conclusion

Reported complications of retained epicardial pacing wires are unusual. We present this case in order to include it to the potential complications of the epicardial pacing wires.