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Having Lead Extraction

Lead extraction is the removal of wires (leads) from your heart. The wires are part of an implanted cardiac device. They run from the generator (battery and computer) to your heart. These small devices, such as a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, are put into the chest to help the heart keep a normal rhythm. The leads of a device may need to be removed and replaced if they stop working or become infected or your vein becomes blocked (occluded).

Outline of man's chest showing pacemaker in chest with leads going into heart chambers.

What to tell your healthcare provider

Let your healthcare provider know what other medical conditions you currently have, as well as any surgeries you have had before, especially those related to your heart and chest. Tell your provider about all the medicines you're taking, especially blood thinners and any nonprescribed medicines or supplements, such as vitamins, minerals, or herbal remedies.

Let your provider know if you're pregnant or think you may be pregnant. The imaging used during the procedure uses radiation. This may be a risk to a baby. Your provider may give you a pregnancy test to make sure you aren’t pregnant.

Tests before your procedure

You'll have some tests before your procedure. These may include:

Electrocardiogram to check your heart rhythm
Echocardiography (echo) to look at heart anatomy and function
Chest X-ray to visualize the cardiac device and the wires in the heart
Venogram to look at the veins around the device
Blood tests to check your overall health and prepare for a blood transfusion if needed

Getting ready for your procedure

Don't eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before your procedure. Follow instructions about which medicines to take or stop before the procedure.

On the day of your procedure

Your procedure will be done either by a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon. These are healthcare providers who specialize in heart diseases. They'll work with a team of specialized nurses and technicians. You will be asked to sign a form agreeing to the procedure. Ask any questions you have before you sign. The surgery can be done in several ways. Ask your provider about the details of your surgery. The procedure may take as long as a few hours. In general, you can expect the following:

You'll likely have general anesthesia, which includes medicine that allows you to sleep through the surgery, and be placed on a breathing machine. In rare cases, general anesthesia won't be used. Instead, you may get medicines that help you relax and sleep, but don't need a breathing machine. Either way, you won't feel pain during the surgery.
A provider will watch your vital signs, including your heart rate and blood pressure, during the surgery.
Often an IV (intravenous) line is placed in the groin area or sometimes in the neck.
An IV line may be placed in your wrist artery to help keep track of blood pressure.
If needed, hair may be removed (clipped) from the skin in the area of surgery. Then the skin will be cleaned.
Medicine will be given to numb the area.
An incision will be made over the site of the cardiac device. Scar tissue and the device will be removed.
The leads will then be identified for removal.
Using a variety of tools, which may include laser or other mechanical sheaths, the leads will be freed from the blood vessels and heart so that they can be safely removed.
Your vital signs will be tracked carefully and ultrasound pictures of the heart may be taken through your esophagus. If complications occur, immediate open heart surgery may need to be done.
Depending on your situation, a new lead or leads may be placed and the cardiac device replaced.
The skin will then be closed with stitches (sutures) and bandaged.

After your procedure

After surgery, you'll be taken to a recovery room. Nurses will check your breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. They'll also watch your heart rhythm. You may be given pain medicine if you need it. You may need an echocardiogram and a follow-up chest X-ray to check your heart and lungs. You’ll likely need to stay in the hospital at least 1 night.

Recovering at home

Follow all the instructions your healthcare provider gives you. Don't get the incision wet until your provider says it's OK. You may also be under activity restrictions if new leads were placed. Ask your provider when you can go back to normal activity. Ask what activities you can safely do in the meantime.

Follow-up care

If you have external stitches, you'll need to have them removed about 1 week after the procedure. Make sure to keep all of your follow-up appointments.