First time in Coimbatore KMCH successfully performs Lead Extraction using special device

Surgically implanted heart devices play an important role in the treatment of heart disease. Pacemakers treat slow heart rhythms by increasing the heart rate. Occasionally, pacemaker and implanted lead or heart wire must be removed. The removal of such systems is potentially a high-risk procedure. A pacemaker lead is a special wire that delivers energy from a pacemaker to the heart muscle. A lead extraction is the removal of one or more leads from inside the heart.

The doctors at KMCH came across a patient (50 year old female) who had undergone pacemaker implantation for a condition called sick sinus syndrome elsewhere few years ago. Due to infection at the site of pacemaker battery, the battery was removed elsewhere. Manual extraction of lead was attempted but failed.

She was referred to KMCH for lead extraction. If any part of the pacemaker system becomes infected, it is usually impossible to cure the infection without completely removing all hardware from the body.

Lead extraction was performed using a special device called the lead locking device by Dr. Lawrance Jesuraj, Electrophysiologist and Interventional cardiologist in KMCH. This is the first case of lead extraction using this device in Coimbatore.

It was done under local anesthesia and conscious sedation with heart surgeon was kept standby in case of any major complication. Using this device, lead was extracted safely without any complications. Procedure took approximately 45minutes. Patient was shifted to room the same day and discharged home the next day.

Lead extraction is a complex surgical procedure with some unavoidable risks. Each time the lead is separated from scar tissue; there is a small chance of tearing the surrounding blood vessel or perforating the heart, which can result in major bleeding in the chest or around the heart. In some cases, this requires blood transfusion or even immediate open heart surgery to save the patient’s

life.

“KMCH has complete heart care team to handle these kind of complex cases”, told Dr M Lawrance Jesuraj.