Use of Transesophageal Echocardiography to Improve the Safety of Transvenous Lead Extraction.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during transvenous lead extraction (TLE) involving both conventional and laser lead removal.

Background: TLE carries a small but measurable risk of serious adverse events. Few studies have examined the potential benefit of continuous monitoring with TEE during this procedure.

Methods: Continuous TEE monitoring was performed in 100 consecutive patients (67% male; average age, 57 ± 17 years) who underwent TLE in the past 5 years. Lead extraction was attempted for 193 leads. The average time since lead implant was 78 ± 55 months (range, 1.4 to 274.4 months). Indications for extraction were device endocarditis (n = 28), lead fracture (n = 28), recalled lead (n = 21), pocket infection (n = 17), and other (n = 6).

Results: Complete success occurred in 181 leads (94%), partial success in 4 leads (2%), and failure in 8 leads (4%). Eighty patients required laser lead extraction (80%). Major complications included 1 right ventricular and 2 right atrial/superior vena cava lacerations, which were detected and localized within 1 to 2 min with the use of TEE and resulted in prompt surgical repair. There was 1 upper gastrointestinal bleed caused by the TEE probe. TEE prevented premature termination and unnecessary surgery in 4 patients with hypotension but no intracardiac abnormalities seen on TEE. In-hospital mortality rate was 0%. In total, TEE provided immediately useful clinical information in 7 patients (7%).

Conclusions: Continuous monitoring with TEE facilitates prompt diagnosis and treatment of intracardiac damage and prevents premature termination of cases with hypotension but no abnormalities on TEE.