Case Report: Cardiac Tamponade due to a Right Ventricular Microperforation Following Insertion of Pacemaker

Authors

  • David Saavedra Segura Universidad del Norte, Colombia.
  • Valeria Márquez Gallego Universidad del Norte, Colombia
  • Johan Salcedo Cumplido Universidad del Norte, Colombia
  • Armando Gómez Álvarez Universidad del Norte, Colombia
  • Camilo Olivares Guerra Universidad del Norte, Colombia
  • Mariana Pérez de la Torre Universidad del Norte, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.42.02.425.529

Keywords:

Cardiac tamponade, pacemaker, ICD, post pacemaker ventricular perforation, pacemaker complications.

Abstract

Introduction: Ventricular perforation is an uncommon complication associated with the implantation
of pacemakers. However, this complication can be life-threatening to the patient if the perforation
is not surgically resolved on time.
Clinical case: A clinical case of a 54-year-old women with chronic heart failure and a severe reduction
in ejection fraction (EF), ischemic cardiomyopathy, and recent insertion of an implantable cardioverter-
defibrillator-pacemaker dispositive (ICD-PM), who presented the emergency department
with clinical manifestations of acute heart failure and cardiac tamponade. The diagnosis of pericardial
effusion secondary to right ventricular perforation following the insertion of a pacemaker was
confirmed by a transthoracic echocardiogram.
Discussion and conclusion: Given that a substantial number of pacemaker insertions are performed
annually globally, it is important to monitor the patient continuously after the surgery and
consider the complications that this surgical procedure could entail. Considering this medical emergency
within the diagnostic possibilities in patients with a history of pacemaker insertion improves
the prognosis of this pathology.

Author Biographies

  • David Saavedra Segura, Universidad del Norte, Colombia.

    Internista, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla (Colombia). Residente de Reumatología, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín (Colombia). davidfsaavedrasegura@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9040-9945

  • Valeria Márquez Gallego, Universidad del Norte, Colombia

    Médica general, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla (Colombia).
    valerimg@gmail.com.
    https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3314-7016

  • Johan Salcedo Cumplido, Universidad del Norte, Colombia

    Médico general, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla (Colombia).
    Johandres2001@hotmail.com. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1539-9977

  • Armando Gómez Álvarez, Universidad del Norte, Colombia

    Médico general, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla (Colombia).
    armandogomezal@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2586-3400

  • Camilo Olivares Guerra, Universidad del Norte, Colombia

    Residente de Medicina Interna, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla (Colombia).
    camilocantore_30@hotmail.com. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6125-6591

  • Mariana Pérez de la Torre, Universidad del Norte, Colombia

    Médico internista, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla. Residente de Nefrología,
    Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá (Colombia). marianadelatorre94@gmail.com.
    https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0381-6208

Downloads

Published

2026-07-09

Issue

Section

CLINICAL CASE REPORTS

How to Cite

Case Report: Cardiac Tamponade due to a Right Ventricular Microperforation Following Insertion of Pacemaker. (2026). SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 42(2), 584-600. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.42.02.425.529

Similar Articles

1-10 of 1194

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)