CTICasesRetained Wires from First-Generation Defibrillator
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Imaging findings
Frontal chest x-ray showed sternotomy wires in the shape of a square, with epicardial leads. Lateral projection showed wires anterior and posterior to the heart. These were identified as rectangular wire patches containing a very fine mesh of lines that do not resolve on conventional radiographs, along with a dense bar on the lead.
Key takeaways
These are retained wires from first-generation implanted defibrillators from the 1980s, which required open surgery and direct implantation. The pulse generators were large and implanted in the lower abdomen or pelvis. Later generations used oval patches with coarser wires. These are also known as patch electrodes.
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