Lead extraction is a procedure in which specialists are able to safely and successfully remove leads of implanted cardiac devices.
A lead is a specially-designed, flexible wire implanted through a vein into one or several chambers of the heart. Depending on the design, a lead can stimulate the heart to beat or shock the heart to stop a life-threatening, fast heart rhythm. When leads malfunction or more commonly become infected, they need to be removed surgically by a lead extraction specialist.
At Hartford Hospital, lead extraction is performed by a highly trained, experienced team. The procedure typically takes several hours and is performed with the patient under general anesthesia. To extract the leads, the patient’s incision is opened and the device is removed. The leads are then disconnected from the device and prepared for extraction. Leads that have been in the body for years typically have scar tissue that has developed on the leads attaching the leads to various parts of the vein and heart structures. Specialized equipment, such as a laser or cutting tool, is used to cut through the scar tissue, detaching it from the blood vessel and heart, thereby allowing the lead to be removed. New leads may be placed at the time of extraction or at a later date.
Hartford Hospital is one of only a few medical centers in the region that perform lead extraction.