A rare cause of pacemaker lead displacement: Twiddler's syndrome

Twiddler's syndrome is a rare but potentially lethal complication of pacemaker implantation. It is usually diagnosed within 1 year after implantation. It is characterized by device malfunction caused by pacemaker lead displacement due to twisting of the box on part of the patient. Twiddler's syndrome has been described by in 1968 as a complication of pacemaker implantation. It has also been reported after defibrillator implantation and cardiac resynchronization therapy. We here report the case of a 89-year old female patient admitted with Twiddler's syndrome leading to pacemaker malfunction secondary to pacemaker lead displacement. She underwent lead repositioning and received appropriate advice.