Bilateral Breast Implant Rupture Following Elective Cardioversion: A Case Report and Review

We present the case of a patient that suffered bilateral breast implant rupture following elective electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation.  In general, breast implant rupture is extraordinarily rare.  Capsular formation with dense muscular attachments, however, is common.  Sudden and massive muscular contraction, as occurs during electrical cardioversion, can cause rupture of breast implants with significant health and cosmetic consequences.  The incidence of this complication will certainly increase as the population of patients with breast implants and concomitant atrial fibrillation increases.   Thus, particular caution is warranted among this patient population.