How to Extract Defibrillator Leads

A Cardiac Defibrillator maintains a steady heart beat in patients with severe cardiac arrhythmias. Defibrillator leads are thin wires designed to navigate through veins until they reach heart muscle. These wires deliver pulses of energy to your heart, stimulating a constant, coordinated heartbeat. Some situations call for removing or replacing these leads. Only a well-trained and experienced surgeon should perform this maneuver.

Things You'll Need

• Replacement Leads
• Surgical Support System
• General Anesthesia

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Instructions

Operation

• 1

  First, a surgeon must examine the patient and determine the need for extracting the defibrillator. The indications for defibrillator lead extraction fall into two categories: "patient-related and lead-related" says "Miller's Anesthesia" textbook. According to the "Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator" chapter, patient-related indications include infections, blood-clotting, and poor arrhythmia control.

• 2

  Extract the leads using a high-powered surgical laser, which effortlessly dissects the accumulated scar tissue. Doctors commonly use this method when traditional methods for lead extraction fail due to excess scar tissue anchoring the leads.

• 3

  Implant replacement leads in order to continue controlling arrhythmias.