SUCCESSFUL PERCUTANEOUS EXTRACTION OF PACEMAKER LEADS WITH A NOVEL (VASCOEXTOR) PACING LEAD REMOVAL SYSTEM

A new pacing lead extraction system (VascoExtor, VascoMed, Germany) wi th a universally applicable locking stylet was used over a period of 1 2 months to extract 25 permanent pacemaker leads (mean implantation ti me 3.9 +/- 3.8 years) in 16 patients who had pacemaker infection (n = 13), lead dysfunction (n 2). or before an automatic defibrillator impl ant (n = 1). With use of this system. we were able to successfully and safely remove 24 of 25 chronic pacing leads (96%) in 15 of 16 patient s (93%) with sole use of the locking stylet in 81%, and with use of an array of ancillary tools in the remaining 19% of patients.