Introduction: Although there are reports showing that the extraction of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) leads may be hazardous, clinical evidence suggests that such procedures are safe. We evaluated the safety of transvenous lead extraction of ICD or CRT-D, compared with that of pacemaker.
Methods: Between August 2009 and September 2012, we collected data prospectively of 210 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous transvenous lead extraction and compared incidence of major adverse events (MAE; death, myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac tamponade, PE, blood transfusion or pneumohemothorax ) between PM and ICD or CRT implanted patients.
Results: There were 129 patients (42.3%) with PM and 81 patients (57.7%) with ICD or CRT. All patients underwent successful transvenous removal of endocardial leads. Two of 81 patients (2.5%) had evidence of MAE in ICD or CRT group. No significant difference of MAE was found between two group (4.0 vs. 2.5%, P = 0.57).
Conclusions: In patients with ICD or CRT, percutaneous transvenous lead extraction could be performed safely compared with PM lead extraction.