Procedural characteristics
Forty-one respondents (85%) performed lead extractions, with most
institutions (66%) performing less than 10 procedures per year and only
11% of of them preforming >25 procedures per year (figure
2A). Procedures were generally performed under general anesthesia
(97%). As expected, based on the respondent’s specialty,
electrophysiologists were reported to be in charge of lead extractions
in 85% of cases (figure 2B). Out of the 38 institutions in which lead
extraction was performed, laser powered sheaths were available in only 5
institutions (13%), while mechanical tools (either mechanical dilators
or rotating sheaths) were used by most respondents (figure 2C).
Regarding safety measures and intra-procedural monitoring (figure 2D),
the BRIDGE balloon (Phillips, San Diego, CA) was used in 5 institutions
(13%), with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and intracardiac
echocardiography (ICE) used in 15 (39%) and 6 (16%) institutions,
respectively. Most respondents reported a cardiovascular surgeon was
either in the procedure room (46%) or on call within the institution
(46%).