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%).