title: Surgical extraction of infected pacemaker leads after cardiac surgery.
abstract: Surgical extraction of permanent pacemaker leads is performed when noninvasive extraction is felt to be unsafe or has been unsuccessfully attempted. Surgical extraction in patients with previous cardiac surgery presents a particular challenge as re-sternotomy is hazardous and the presence of surgical adhesions makes video-assisted approaches difficult. We report 2 cases of successful deployment of a surgical technique using femorofemoral cardiopulmonary bypass and right anterior thoracotomy for removal of pacemaker leads.
authors.affiliation: Regional Cardiothoracic Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN, UK. smnouraei@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Seyed Mahmoud
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nouraei
authors.forename: Rodney S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bexton
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000601:surgery*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000601:surgery*