Internal balloon compression: A method to achieve hemostasis when removingan inadvertently placed pacemaker lead from the subclavian artery

One of the possible complications of subclavian vein puncture is entry into the subclavian artery. If this is not recognized, a pacemaker lead may be placed arterially Since this may lead to systemic emboli, the pacemaker lea d must be removed. This case report describes a patient in whom an atrial l ead was inadvertently placed in the ascending aorta, where it had good sens ing values but poor atrial capture threshold values. This lead was subseque ntly removed and hemostasis was achieved with intraarterial balloon compres sion via the brachial artery.