Sudden Death Due to Thrombosis Associated with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Electrodes.

ABSTRACT

Thrombosis associated with pacemaker leads is extremely rare, although the literature on this subject is scarce. A clinical case is reported, describing this condition and its clinical presentation, the complementary tests for establishing the diagnosis and the available therapeutic options. LEARNING POINTS Thrombosis associated with pacemaker leads is extremely rare.The different causes that contribute to thrombosis all have Virchow's triad (blood stasis, endothelial injury/dysfunction and hypercoagulability) in common.Transthoracic and/or transoesophageal Doppler echocardiography is the gold standard for establishing the diagnosis, while the treatment options are anticoagulation, thrombolysis and surgical or endovascular embolectomy.