Caution urged with children's pacemakers

Canada's federal health agency warned doctors and parents Wednesday to monitor children with epicardial pacemakers for potentially dangerous changes. "Health Canada has been made aware of rare Canadian cases of cardiac strangulation in pediatric patients implanted with epicardial pacemaker leads," the agency said. "Eight international cases of cardiac strangulation, including two deaths, have been reported in medical journals." The problems begin as the child grows and the leads, or wires, attached to the outer surface of the heart become tighter. The pacemakers are often used to treat children with erratic or irregular heart rates. The agency urged parents to monitor children with such pacemakers for chest pain, general fatigue or fainting. "In some cases, cardiac strangulation was diagnosed early and the patients underwent successful corrective surgery to replace the lead," the release said.