Reel syndrome in a patient with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

Abstract

The Twiddler syndrome and its variant, the Reel syndrome, are uncommon complications in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, but they can cause severe device dysfunction. The identification of the predisposing factors and the intervention on them, as well as the periodic monitoring of the operation by means of telemetry and chest radiography, are useful in the prevention of these syndromes. Here is described the case of a patient with Reel syndrome at the third month after the implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator, as a result of a sepsis in the generator pocket.