As new-type powered sheaths are expensive and unavailable, the standard lead extraction techniques remain the mainstay in clinical applications in many countries. The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate the clinical application of the standard lead extraction techniques and equipment, and make some procedural modifications and innovations. In our center, between January 2006 and May 2012, 229 patients （median, 66 years） who underwent lead extraction due to infection and lead malfunc- tion were registered and followed up prospectively with respect to clinical features, reasons for lead ex- traction, technical characteristics, and clinical prognosis. A total of 440 leads had to be extracted trans- venously by using special tools from 229 patients （male, 72.1%）. Vegetations 〉1 cm were detected in six patients. Locking Stylets were applied for 398 （90.5%） leads. Telescoping dilator polypropylene sheaths and counter traction technique were used for 202 （45.9%） leads due to lead adhesion, and the mean im- plant duration of the 202 leads was longer than the other 238 leads （48.9±22.6 vs. 26.6±17.8 months; P 〈0.01）. In addition, modified isolation and snare techniques were used for 56 leads （12.7%）. Minor and major procedure-related complications occurred in three （1.3%） and four （1.7%） cases respectively, in- cluding one death （0.4%）. Severe lead residue occurred in one case. Complete procedural success rate was 96.1% （423/440）, and clinical success rate was 98.9% （435/440）. The median follow-up period was 18 （1-76） months. No infection- and procedure-related death occurred in our series. Our data demon- strated that high clinical success rate of transvenous lead extraction can be guaranteed by making full use of the standard lead extraction techniques and equipment with individualized modifications.
Background Cardiac resynchronization therapy （CRT） device and coronary sinus （CS） lead extraction are required due to the occurrence of systemic infection, malfunction, or upgrade. Relevant research of CS lead extraction is rare, especially in developing countries because of the high cost and lack of specialized tools. We aimed to evaluate percutaneous extraction of CS leads by modified conventional techniques. Methods Of 200 patients referred for lead extraction from January 2007 to June 2011, 24 （12.0%） involved CS leads （24 CS leads）. We prospectively analyzed clinical characteristics, optimized extraction techniques and feasibility of extraction. Results Complete procedural success was achieved in 23 patients （95.8%）, and the clinical success in 24 patients （100.0%）. The leading indication for CS lead extraction was infection （66.7%）. Mean implant duration was （29.5±20.2） months （range, 3-78 months）. Sixteen CS leads （66.6%） were removed with locking stylets plus manual traction by superior transvenous approach. Mechanical dilatation and counter-traction was required to free fibrotic adhesions and extract 4 CS leads （16.7%）, which had longer implant duration than other leads （（62.5±12.3） vs. （22.9±14.1） months, P〈0.05）. Another 4 CS （16.7%） leads were removed by modified and innovative snare techniques from femoral vein approach. Median extraction time was 11 minutes （range, 3-61 minutes） per CS lead, which had significant correlation with implant duration （r = 0.8, P 〈0.001）. Sixteen patients （66.6%） were reimplanted with new devices at a median of 7.5 days after extraction. Median followed-up was 23.5 months （range, 8-61 months）, three patients died due to sudden cardiac death （26 months）, heart failure （45 and 57 months, respectively）. Conclusion The modified procedure was proved to be practical for percutaneous extraction of CS leads, especially in developing countries lacking expensive powered sheaths.
