An implantable left atrial pressure sensor lead designed for percutaneous extraction using standard techniques

Victor Pretorius, Ulrika Birgersdotter-Green, J. Thomas Heywood, Werner Hafelfinger, Dan E. Gutfinger, Neal L. Eigler, Charles J. Love, William T. Abraham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background An implantable left atrial pressure (LAP) monitoring system for guiding the management of patients with advanced heart failure has the potential to require extraction, particularly in the setting of infection. The LAP sensor lead was designed to be suitable for ease of percutaneous extraction using standard techniques for extracting pacemaker and defibrillator leads. The clinical experience, to date, with percutaneous extraction of the LAP sensor lead is presented. Methods A total of 82 patients underwent successful implantation of the LAP sensor lead using transseptal catheterization. Five patients of the 82 patients during a cumulative follow-up period of 267 patient-years (median of 2.9 years/patient) underwent percutaneous extraction using manual traction with a locking stylet and/or an excimer laser sheath to bore through adhesions. The distal fixation anchors of the LAP sensor lead are designed to fold forward during extraction so that the sensor module can easily separate from the interatrial septum. Results Percutaneous extraction of the LAP sensor lead was accomplished successfully in all five patients with no embolic events, vascular tears, perforations, or other complications requiring surgical intervention. Manual traction alone was sufficient to detach the LAP sensor lead from the interatrial septum in all cases. Use of the excimer laser sheath was needed in selected cases to bore through scar tissue within the venous insertion site, but not within the heart. Conclusions The extraction of the LAP sensor lead was accomplished safely using standard techniques and equipment for percutaneously extracting pacemaker and defibrillator leads.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)570-577
Number of pages8
JournalPACE - Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology
Volume36
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • lead extraction
  • left atrial pressure monitoring
  • pacemaker infection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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