[Perforation of the heart during implantation of a transvenous pacemaker. A report on two cases].

Perforation of the right ventricular wall occurred in 2 patients during implantation of a transvenous temporary pacemaker. Although neither of the patients showed any signs of symptoms of pericardial tamponade, blood was found in the pericardial sac at thoracotomy, by means of which epicardial pacemakers were inserted. The possibility of tamponade should therefore be kept in mind when anaesthetizing patients who received a temporary transvenous pacemaker.