title: [Initial experience in Russia of excimer laser extraction of endocardial leads].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess effectiveness and safety of excimer laser extraction of chronically implanted transvenous pacing leads using countertraction technique. We operated upon 10 patients (female 2), mean age 56.1+/-11.7 years. Average time of lead placement was 7.7+/-4.2 years. Indications included erosion of device pocket in 4 patients, abscess of pocket in 2 patients, high grade of tricuspid valve insufficiency in 1 patient with 2 ventricular leads, lead related induction of life-threatening ventricular tachycardia in 3 ICD patients. We used xenon-chloride laser with excimer laser sheath SLS n KIT 14-16 Fr and locking stylet LLD KIT (Spectranetics, USA). Endotracheal anesthesia was applied in all cases. Leads removal was a success for 3 atrial and 12 ventricular leads. All endocardial leads were extracted with countertraction after near-the-complete progression of the laser sheath. Postoperative follow-up period was 16.3+/-5.7 months. There were no procedure-related complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser lead extraction is a safe and effective approach to removal of long-term leads including those with active fixation.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ardashev
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Dzhandzhgava
authors.forename: Iu V
authors.initials: IuV
authors.lastname: Kuznestsov
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shavarov
authors.forename: O Iu
authors.initials: OIu
authors.lastname: Vrublevskiĭ
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Kriuchko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004699:Endocardium; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012426:Russia; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome