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Laser lead removal safe for older patients
Rodriguez Y. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2011;4:719-723.
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Laser lead extraction is a safe and effective treatment method in octogenarian patients with multiple comorbidities, new data suggest.
For a recent study, patients who underwent laser lead extraction from January 2004 to September 2009 were divided into two groups: those aged 80 years and older (n=118; 78 men) and those aged younger than 80 years (n=388; 301 men). Researchers compared the medical records of all patients.
In the octogenarian group, 253 leads (atrial=99; ventricular=145; coronary sinus=9) were removed vs. 814 leads (atrial=295; ventricular=442; coronary sinus=77) in the nonoctogenarian group. According to study results, infection was the main indication for lead extraction in both groups. However, the researchers found no significant differences in infection rates or rates of hypertension, diabetes, CAD and congestive HF.
Among other study findings, mean lead implant duration for octogenarians was 59.6 ± 52.8 months vs. 38.6 ± 43.9 months for nonoctogenarians. Octogenarians had more pacemakers (56%) vs. nonoctogenarians (36%), but nonoctogenarians had more implantable cardioverter defibrillators (47% vs. 28%; P<.001).
“This is an exciting study because it demonstrates elderly people can go through laser lead extraction in a safer way,” Roger G. Carrillo, MD, chief of surgical electrophysiology at the University of Miami Hospital in Florida, said in a press release.
Disclosure: Dr. Carrillo is a consultant for Spectranetics, Sorin, Medtronic and Sensormatic/Tyco.
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