Transvenous lead extraction: procedural outcomes and in-hospital mortality in octogenarian patients

Abstract

Abstract Background Managing elderly patients with infection or malfunction deriving from a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) may be challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of mechanical transvenous lead extraction (TLE) in elderly patients. Methods Patients who had undergone TLE in single tertiary referral center were divided in two groups (Group 1: ≥80 years; group 2:<80 years) and their acute and chronic outcomes were compared. All patients were treated with manual traction or mechanical dilatation. Results Our analysis included 1316 patients (group 1: 202, group 2: 1114 patients), with a total of 2513 leads extracted. Group 1 presented more comorbidities and more pacemakers, whereas the dwelling time of the oldest lead was similar, irrespectively of patient's age. In group 1 the radiological success rate for lead was higher (99.0% vs 95.9%; P<0.001) and the fluoroscopy time lower (13.0 vs 15.0 minutes; P=0.04) than in group 2. Clinical success was reached in 1273 patients (96.7%), without significant differences between groups (group 1: 98.0% vs group 2: 96.4%; P=0.36). Major complications occurred in 10 patients (0.7%) without significative differences between patients with more or less than 80 years (group 1: 1.5% vs group 2: 0.6%; P=0.24). In the elderly group no in-hospital mortality occurred (0.0% vs 0.5%; P=0.42). Conclusions Mechanical TLE in elderly patients is a safe and effective procedure. In the over-80s, a comparable incidence of major complications with younger patients was observed, with at least a similar efficacy of the procedure and no procedural-related deaths. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None