Lead Extraction Surgery
Enhancing Quality-of-Life Through Surgical Expertise

Millions of Americans suffer from heart arrhythmias and require permanent pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to stabilize their heart rhythms.  Eventually, the leads – thin, flexible wires that travel through a vein and deliver energy to the heart muscle from the pacemaker or ICD – may become infected, damaged or non-functional.  Lead extraction surgery is the removal of one or more leads from the inside of the heart and veins with special tools that safely release the lead from the scar tissue. The extraction is performed by hooking a special wire onto the inside of the lead, or by placing a snare through a vein to grasp the outside of the lead.  The physician then pushes a plastic tube with a laser over the lead to help separate it from the scar tissue in the veins and the heart.  The plastic tubes, or sheaths, break the scar tissue to prevent tearing the veins or heart.  Then new leads and pacemakers or defibrillators can be implanted during the same surgery.  This has saved many patients multiple surgeries or prolonged hospital stays.  Patients usually leave the hospital the day after the procedure.  In most circumstances, the patient is able to resume normal activities relatively soon after the surgery.

Refining an Innovative Surgical Technique

Lead extraction was not consistently performed until 1988 when better tools became available to safely release the lead from the scar tissue. A registry of lead extraction procedures has been carefully maintained since that time. Usually the complete lead is removed; however, sometimes a small segment is left behind. This is usually not a problem and may be enough to allow the patient to continue living with no further interference from the partially removed lead. Approximately 90% of all leads are completely removed with current techniques. The risk and success of lead extraction depends on having the best tools, taking appropriate precautions and utilizing an experienced physician and team.

Only a handful of physicians in the world routinely perform lead extraction surgery.  Our team includes one of the most experienced lead extraction specialists not only in the U.S., but also in the world.

For more information about our programs and services, awards and recognitions, or our nationally recognized heart specialists, contact our Health Resource Center at 1-888-HEALING (1-888-432-5464).  Or you may find a heart specialist by searching our online physician directory.