Silicone-induced endocarditis. A complication of transvenous cardiac pacing catheterization.

We report a case of silicone-induced endocarditis as a newly recognized complication of transvenous cardiac pacing catheterization. Silicone was found embedded in thrombotic vegetations on the tricuspid valve of a patient who had a long-standing pacing catheter in the right side of his heart. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis confirmed the presence of silicone in the vegetations and in the catheter tip.