Evaluation and extraction of the Accufix atrial J lead.
The Accufix (Telectronics Pacing Systems, Englewood, Colo.) atrial active fixation pacemaker lead has a preformed J stiff retention wire that can fracture and erode through the atrium. We screened 85 patients with digital fluoroscopy and detected 18 (21%) lead fractures. Fourteen (16%) leads were successfully extracted by percutaneous techniques. The mean time for extraction and placement of a new atrial lead was 109 +/- 53 min, and a lead > 1 year old but not in the presence of a fracture was associated with a significantly longer extraction time. There were two extraction complications. One patient had a fever following the extraction, and one patient had a focal sensory deficit 1 week after the extraction probably caused by a paradoxical embolus. Standard percutaneous extraction tools can be used for successful and safe removal of a fractured Accufix lead.
Daoud
E G
EG
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor 48109-0022, USA.
Kou
W
W
Davidson
T
T
Niebauer
M
M
Bogun
F
F
Castellani
M
M
Chan
K K
KK
Goyal
R
R
Harvey
M
M
Strickberger
S A
SA
Man
K C
KC
Morady
F
F
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000628:therapy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D015642:Radiology, Interventional; D013997:Time Factors