Abstract
Background
The guidelines suggest close co-operation between TLE operating team and cardiac surgery and its key role in the management of life-threatening complications remains unquestionable. But the role of cardiac surgeon seems to be much more extended.
Purpose
We have analysed the role of cardiac surgery in treatment of patients undergoing TLE procedures.
Methods
Using standard non-powered mechanical systems we have extracted ingrown PM/ICD leads from 3207 pts (38,7% female, average age 65,7-y) during the last 14 years. Non-infectious TLE indications were in 66,4% of patients. 46% had PM DDD system, 19% PM SSI, 22% ICD, 9% CRT, 4% other systems. In 12% of patients abandoned leads were found. 8% of patients had one lead, 54% - two, 15% - three and 4% - 4–6 leads in the heart. An average dwell time of all leads was 91,5 mth. The lead entry side was left in 96% of patients, right in 3% and both – 4%.
Results
Procedural success 96,1%, clinical success - 97,8%, procedure-related death 0,2%. Major complications appeared in 1,9% (cardiac tamponade 1,2%, haemothorax 0,2%, tricuspid valve damage 0,3%, stroke, pulmonary embolism <1%).
Conclusions
Rescue cardiac surgery (for severe haemorrhagic complications) is still the most frequent reason of surgical intervention (1,1%). The second area of co-operation includes supplementary cardiac surgery after (incomplete) TLE (0,8%). The third one is connected with reconstruction or replacement of tricuspid valve, which can be affected by ingrown lead or damaged during TLE procedure (0,5%). Implantation of the complete epicardial system during any surgical intervention (rescue or delayed) should be considered as a supplementation of the operation (0,65%). Some of patients after TLE need implantation of epicardial leads for permanent epicardial pacing (0,6%) and some only left ventricular lead to rebuild permanent cardiac resynchronisation (0,5%). The single experience of large TLE centre indicates the necessity of close co-operation with cardiac surgeon, whose role seems to be more comprehensive than a surgical stand-by itself.
Table 1
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding source: None
Transvenous lead extraction: procedural outcomes and in-hospital mortality in octogenarian patients