Implantable device leads can cause tricuspid regurgitation (TR) when they interfere with leaflet motion. Patients may present with clinical symptoms of right-sided congestive heart failure (jugular venous distention, pulsatile liver, peripheral edema), although many are asymptomatic. The detection of severe tricuspid regurgitation by echocardiography may be missed because of acoustic shadowing from the pacemaker wires and suboptimal visualization of the regurgitant jet. (1-3)

The aim of this study was to present the various mechanisms through which ventricular leads may cause TR in real-life cases detected by echocardiography.

We describe five patients with new or worsening preexisting TR after the implantation of one or more right ventricular leads, their clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment (Figure 1, Figure 2). The mechanisms of TR include lead adherence to the leaflets due to fibrosis and scar formation causing incomplete valve closure, valve obstruction caused by a lead placed in between leaflets, lead entrapment in the tricuspid valve apparatus, valve perforation or laceration by the pacemaker lead and annular dilatation of the valve.