Exceptionally large vegetation on pacemaker lead developed years after implantation

Demet Menekşe Gerede; Ali Timuçin Altın; Veysel Kutay Vurgun; Aynur Acıbuca; Serkan Durdu

doi:10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2015.11645

Demet Menekşe Gerede¹, Ali Timuçin Altın¹, Veysel Kutay Vurgun¹, Aynur Acıbuca¹, Serkan Durdu²

¹Departments of Cardiology, Medical Faculty of Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
²Departments of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty of Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2015.11645

With the increasing use of cardiac implantable electronic devices in recent years, infective endocarditis associated with these devices has become more common. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to manage this infection successfully. However, the diagnosis of cardiac implantable electronic device endocarditis is not always easy, as there may be no local inflammation signs or the clinical presentation can mimic other systemic infections. Herein, we report a case of pacemaker-related infective endocarditis clinically mimicking pneumonia. Echocardiographic examination was performed due to the patient’s seven years history of pacemaker implantation. A giant vegetation was seen on the pacemaker lead. Interestingly, her vegetation grew to a giant size asymptomatically during this long period of time. After the diagnosis of infective endocarditis, the patient was managed successfully with pacemaker lead system removal and appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Keywords : Infective endocarditis; pacemaker; vegetation

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