Arrhythmias & electrophysiology

Procedural Characteristics and Outcomes of Transvenous Lead Extraction in Patients With Prior Sternotomy

JACC Clin ElectrophysiolPublished Prospectively maintained registry

Authors' conclusion

Despite exhibiting higher comorbidities, PS patients had fewer major complications during TLE, suggesting a protective effect. Still, the challenges of repeat sternotomy highlight the need for recognizing these patients as high-risk should complications occur.

Study context

Population
Patients undergoing transvenous lead extraction (TLE) at one center between 1996 and 2022patients undergoing TLE, 1,344 (27.7%) had a prior sternotomy
Participants
4,846 patients
Exposure
Prior sternotomy (PS) vs No prior sternotomy
  • PSn = 1,344
Methodological detailssingle-centre, multivariable logistic regression, propensity score-matched cohort
  • Single-centre
  • Multivariable logistic regression
  • Propensity score-matched cohort

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Baseline characteristics
  • PS patients had a higher prevalence of comorbidities and an infectious indication for extraction

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Procedural success

Higher procedural success rates in PS patients

Safety

OutcomePSNo prior sternotomyOR (95% CI)P value
Major complications · multivariable analysis1.4%3.0%0.52 (0.30–0.89)P = 0.016
Major cardiovascular injury · multivariable analysis0.54 (0.30–0.98)P = 0.043

Outcome not named in the abstract

Emergent rescue cardiac surgeries

  • Major complications: unadjusted P = 0.001
  • Major complications: findings persisted in a propensity score-matched cohort of 1,256 pairs
  • Outcome not named in the abstract: P = 0.03
  • Emergent rescue cardiac surgeries: P = 0.011

Original publication

Procedural Characteristics and Outcomes of Transvenous Lead Extraction in Patients With Prior Sternotomy. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. Published 5 March 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacep.2026.01.039

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it

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