Medico-economic Evaluation of Strategies for the Lead Extraction of Implantable Defibrillator and Pacemakers: a Retrospective Observational Study

The growing use and the expanding indications for cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) have been associated to an increase of device removal. The indications of CIEDs removal are infectious (55%) or noninfectious (45%) such as upgrading of devices, nonfunctional devices and thrombosis. Removal can be performed according to transvenous or surgical procedures. Transvenous lead removal (TLR) must be done by experimented cardiologists and respecting current consensus. TLR can be done with conventional techniques involving inserting locking stylets and telescoping sheaths around the pacing leads to separate them from the surrounding scar tissue. These conventional procedures have a success rate of ≈65%. TLR thanks to laser sheath has been validated and improved the success rate until >95%. However, the TLR from chronically implanted CIEDs still carries a significant risk of procedural failure, morbidity, and mortality, related to tearing of the great vessels and cardiac structures, even when performed by experienced operators. Even if the transvenous extraction using laser sheath seems to be more effective, this strategy would be more expensive.

Considering the availability of several strategies for TLR and the cost heterogeneity of procedures, a cost assessment in real life of these therapeutic strategies is essential for an optimal choice of therapeutic strategies.