Procedural/clinical success, failure, and complications
The success of TLE was determined through complete procedural and
clinical criteria. Complete procedural success was defined as removing
all targeted leads and lead material from the vascular space without
permanently disabling complication or procedure-related mortality.
Clinical success was defined as removing all targeted leads and lead
material from the vascular space or retention of a small portion of the
lead (<4 cm) that does not negatively impact the outcome goals
of the procedure. This might be the tip of the lead or a small part of
the lead when the remaining portion does not increase the risk of
perforation, embolic events, the perpetuation of infection, or cause any
undesired outcome. “Failure” was defined as the inability to achieve
either complete procedural or clinical success or the development of any
permanently disabling complication or procedural-related death.
Complications were defined as major or minor, according to previously
published guidelines 1.