Contralateral pneumothorax after cardiac pacemaker implantation

We report a case of a 73-year-old man, who was scheduled for elective dual chamber pacemaker implantation because of paroxysmal second-degree atrioventricular block. The pacemaker pocket was located in the left infraclavicular fossa. An active fixation ventricular lead was implanted into the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) through the left cephalic vein venesection, while another active fixation (Medtronic CapSure 5076MRI) atrial lead was located within the right atrial appendage using left subclavian vein puncture.
During the procedure, due to anatomical inconveniences, several attempts at subclavian vein puncture were performed. Difficulties were also encountered during lead introduction through the superior vena cava. At the end of the procedure spontaneous dislocation of the atrial lead occurred. The young doctor repositioned this lead into the free wall of the right atrium (RA). Optimal sensing, pacing, and impedance parameters for both leads were obtained.
The day after operation, the patient reported unspecific pain in the upper abdominal region and later strong, intermittent, stabbing pain in the lower chest. These symptoms intensified during inspiration and while lying on left side. The patient negated dyspnoea. On auscultation, normal vesicular breath sounds were heard. Neither pericardial fluid nor signs of RV perforation were found in transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). In the telemetric pacemaker assessment an increased pacing threshold of atrial lead was noticed (from < 0.5 V/0.4 ms during pacemaker implantation to 4.5 V/1 ms in unipolar pacing and 3 V/1 ms in bipolar pacing); no changes in sensing or impedance parameters were found. However, due to the lack of exact assessment of the atrial lead tip positioning, it was impossible to definitively exclude RA perforation (Figure 1 A). The device was reprogrammed to bipolar stimulation, leading to a decrease in reported complaints.
On the next day a lack of atrial lead capture by threshold > 7.5 V/1.5 ms was recorded. Fluoroscopy revealed dislocation of the atrial lead, which was extracted subsequently. New lead was implanted through subclavian vein puncture into the right atrial appendage, obtaining good parameters (Figures 1 B, C). Several hours after reoperation the patient reported resting dyspnoea. Chest radiograph revealed large right-sided pneumothorax (Figure 1 D), which was cured by suction drainage.
There are two probable causes of contralateral...


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