Colonic perforation following intraoperative temporary pacemaker implantation.

This report describes the case of a 73-year-old man who was referred for consultation for increasing abdominal free air 1 week after he underwent surgery for aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting with intraoperative pacemaker implantation. Laparoscopic exploration revealed that the pacemaker wires had passed through the left transverse colon. Although no previous reports of colonic perforation due to pacemaker lead placement was found, this experience suggests that physicians should suspect this complication in patients with increasing free intraabdominal air and peritoneal signs who have recently undergone placement of a temporary cardiac pacing system.