Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Comprehensive analysis of substernal lead removal: experience from EV ICD Pilot, Pivotal, and Continued Access Studies
- Retrospective analysis of the EV ICD Pilot, Pivotal and Continued Access Studies
- pooled 3 studies
- Mean lead dwell time 12.6 ± 14.3 months (0.2-58.4)
Authors' conclusion
Complete removal of the EV ICD lead was successful in 93.1% of cases, and simple traction was sufficient in most instances.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with a successful EV ICD implant who underwent lead removalof 347 implanted
- Participants
- 29 patients
- Outcome
- Lead removal success
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Lead removal successful
27/29 (93.1%)
Success <1 year post-implant
100% (19/19)
Success >1 year post-implant
80% (8/10)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Removal technique (successful cases with known technique)
- Simple traction
- 22/26 (84.6%)
- Extraction tools
- 4/26 (15.4%)
EV ICD reimplantation
- Reimplant attempts successful
- 11
- All 11 attempts successful
Reason for removal
- Lead dislodgement (main reason)
- n = 9, 31.0%
Safety
Removal procedure complications
- No complications reported
Original publication
Comprehensive analysis of substernal lead removal: experience from EV ICD Pilot, Pivotal, and Continued Access Studies. Europace. Published 30 August 2024. doi:10.1093/europace/euae225
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it