Surgical interruption of a left inferior vena cava following the transfemoral implantation of a permanent pacing lead.

This report describes the case of a patient in whom, after an unsuccessful attempt through the subclavian vein, a permanent pacing lead was inserted through the femoral vein and a left inferior vena cava with azygos continuation. The procedure was followed 4 months later by a pulmonary embolism complicating a right femoroiliac thrombosis. The patient was successfully treated by a percutaneous lead extraction procedure combined with an inferior vena caval surgical interruption.