Transvenous lead extraction of broken and abandoned azygos vein lead – case report

Abstract

Technological progress in medicine allows us to help more patients with more complex diseases. Cardiology is no exception, with phenomenal progress of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) throughout the last few decades. However, with the invention of new, more complicated CIED technologies, it becomes necessary to remove old systems. Removal of leads (especially those with a long dwell time) became a challenge that had to be overcome. Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) technique was developed to fulfil that need. Variable complexity of lead location, anatomical features and patients’ conditions require that every TLE procedure must be prepared individually, with creativity and multiple tools needed in complicated cases. Case report