Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy Facilitated Transvenous Lead Extraction

Abstract

BackgroundDense calcifications encasing pacing leads with long dwell times are common and increase the difficulty of and risks associated with transvenous lead extraction procedures (TLE). Shockwave intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) focuses sound waves to fracture calcified tissue within a narrow radius to the catheter. ObjectivesThis study sought to assess the impact of Shockwave IVL pretreatment during extraction of long dwell time pacemaker and defibrillator leads. MethodsData were compiled retrospectively from patients undergoing TLE at Essentia Health in Duluth, Minnesota, from October 2019 to April 2023. IVL pretreatment was performed using currently available 7- and 8-mm balloons with ≤300 pulses delivered in close proximity to the leads via a retrograde approach, after which the procedure was completed as usual. ResultsOf the 120 patients undergoing TLE procedures, 55 were excluded from the study because the leads were freely mobile. Among the remaining 65 patients, 14 received IVL pretreatment. The median patient ages were similar at 67 (IQR: 63-76) years, with a lead dwell time of 10.7 (IQR: 6.9-14.9) years. The frequencies of diabetes, stroke, prior sternotomy, and lead types were not significantly different between the IVL and conventional groups. IVL pretreatment resulted in an average of 25 (IQR: 9-42) fewer minutes actively extracting leads (P = 0.007). ConclusionsThese data represent the first known cases using Shockwave IVL as an adjunctive measure during extraction of high-risk and high-complexity leads, with a resulting significant reduction in the amount of time spent engaging in the highest-risk phase of the procedure.