Endocardial lead extraction with transesophageal echocardiography
guidance for cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) related
infections
Abstract
With the expanding use of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIEDs)
in older populations with more complicated conditions have bring about
higher rates of CIED infections. We report four cases of CIED infections
from single-center, who were extracted endocardial leads with intra-op
transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) monitoring and guidance. Three of
them had fatal complications as pulmonary embolism, pericardial
tamponade and tricuspid trauma. The other one was found a massive
vegetation detected by TEE not by pre-op transthoracic echocardiogram
(TTE), which could avoid intra-op embolism. Application of TEE helps
improving efficacy and safety by capacitating the operators to perform
the procedure, guiding them to better plans and to rapidly recognize and
manage relative complications. Thus, continuously intra-op TEE should be
one of the routine monitoring methods in this high-risk procedure.