Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-LévAxêque, University of Bordeaux, Pessac, France. phibordier@aol.com
A 70-year-old man extracted his own pacemaker and subclavian port used for delivery of chemotherapy, both implanted 2 weeks earlier. The patient died of septicemia within 6 days. This fatal outcome illustrates the risks of complications associated with severe psychiatric disorders after implantation of prosthetic devices.