Cardio-cutaneous Fistula Due to Retained Epicardial Pacing Electrodes after Cabg Surgery

Background Most patients have temporary epicardial pacing wires placed during cardiac surgery; the wires are removed usually during the first five postoperative days(1). In some patents, however, wire removal is difficult. In these cases, wires are cut short at the skin level and left in situ. Retained electrodes are usually well tolerated and complications are rare. Hereby we report a patient in whom the retained wires were complicated by the fistula, leading along the wires as far as to the right atrial wall.