Successful Placement of a Left Ventricular Pacing Lead Despite Coronary Sinus Dissection During Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Cardiac resynchronization therapy is effective in selected patients with symptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. Coronary sinus dissection is a relatively uncommon, but much feared, complication that may occur during placement of the left ventricular pacing lead. A 68-year-old man was transferred to our hospital for treatment of severe heart failure. He developed coronary sinus dissection after balloon dilatation during the procedure for cardiac resynchronization therapy. Nevertheless, we successfully placed the left ventricular pacing lead in the coronary vein. We present the case with a review of the literature. (Korean J Med 2011;80:333-336)