Andrea Di Cori

Transvenous removal of pacing and implantable cardiac defibrillating leads using single sheath mechanical dilatation and multiple venous approaches: high success rate and safety in more than 2000 leads

Aims The aim of the present study was to describe a 10 years single-centre experience in pacing and defibrillating leads removal using an effective and safe modified mechanical dilatation technique. Methods and results We developed a single mechanical dilating sheath extraction technique with multiple venous entry site approaches. We performed a venous entry site approach (VEA) in cases of exposed leads and an alternative transvenous femoral approach (TFA) combined with an internal transjugular approach (ITA) in the presence of very tight binding sites causing failure of VEA extraction or in cases of free-floating leads. We attempted to remove 2062 leads [1825 pacing and 237 implantable cardiac defibrillating (ICD) leads; 1989 exposed at the venous entry site and 73 free-floating] in 1193 consecutive patients. The VEA was effective in 1799 leads, the TFA in 28, and the ITA in 205; in the overall population, we completely removed 2032 leads (98.4%), partially removed 18 (0.9%), and failed to remove 12 leads (0.6%). Major complications were observed in eight patients (0.7%), causing three deaths (0.3%). Conclusion Mechanical single sheath extraction technique with multiple venous entry site approaches is effective, safe, and with a good cost effective profile for pacing and ICD leads removal.

Microbiology of cardiac implantable electronic device infections

AIMS The aim of the study was to describe the microbiological findings of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) infection in the 2000-2011 period at the Cardiology Unit of New Santa Chiara Hospital in Pisa (Italy). METHODS AND RESULTS Removed CIED leads and pocket material were seeded on solid media and isolates tested for antimicrobial susceptibility with the Kirby Bauer method. Electrodes from 1204 patients were analysed and 854 (70.9%) tested positive. In 663 (77.6%) cases only one species was isolated, in 175 (20.5%) two species, and in 14 (1.8%) >2 species. In 116 cases material from the pocket was also cultured. The result was consistent with that from the electrodes in 69 (59%) cases. In 359 cases a blood sample was also obtained for culture. The result was consistent with that from the leads in 124 (35%) cases. A total of 1068 strains were isolated from electrodes. Gram-positive organisms were most frequently isolated (92.5% of isolates); particularly, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), mainly Staphylococcus epidermidis, in 69% of cases and Staphylococcus aureus in 13.8%, Gram-negative rods in 6.1%, yeasts in 1% and molds in 0.4%. Overall, Oxacillin resistance was 30%, in particular 33% among CoNS and 13% among S. aureus. Oxacillin resistance and quinolones resistance have increased in the period 2006-2011 with respect to the 5 years before. Seventeen percent of Enterobacteriaceae strains had a phenotype compatible with extended spectrum beta-lactamase expression. CONCLUSIONS Culture of the leads offers the possibility of an aetiological diagnosis in the majority of cases. When material from the pocket can be obtained, the microbiological result is often consistent with that from the electrodes, while species isolated from blood cultures are often different and more likely to be the result of contamination. Cardiac implantable electronic device infection is more often monomicrobial, CoNS are most frequently isolated and S. epidermidis is largely the main single agent. Very early infections were associated with S. aureus infection. The pattern of susceptibility to antimicrobials is in general that of community-acquired infections, although oxacillin resistance and quinolones resistance has increased in the last 5 years.

Severe Aortic Stenosis and Myocardial Function Diagnostic and Prognostic Usefulness of Ultrasonic Integrated Backscatter Analysis

Background—The aim of this study was to assess the myocardial reflectivity pattern in severe aortic valve stenosis through the use of integrated backscatter (IBS) analysis. Patients with aortic stenosis (AS) were carefully selected in the Department of Cardiology. Methods and Results—Thirty-five subjects (AS: valve orifice ≤1 cm2; 12 female; mean age, 71.8±6.2 years) and 25 healthy subjects were studied. All subjects of the study had conventional 2D-Doppler echocardiography and IBS. Backscatter signal was sampled at the septum and posterior wall levels. Patients with AS were divided into 2 groups: 16 patients with initial signs of congestive heart failure and a depressed left ventricular systolic function (DSF) (ejection fraction [EF] range, 35% to 50%) and 19 asymptomatic patients with normal left ventricular systolic function (NSF) (EF >50%). Myocardial echo intensity (pericardium related) was significantly higher at the septum and posterior wall levels in DSF than in NSF and in control subjects. IBS variation, as an expression of variation of the signal, appeared to be significantly lower in AS with DSF than in NSF and in control subjects, at both the septum and posterior wall levels. Patients with DSF underwent aortic valve replacement, and, during surgical intervention, a septal myocardial biopsy was made for evaluation of myocardium/fibrosis ratio. Abnormally increased echo intensity was detected in left ventricular pressure overload by severe aortic stenosis and correlated with increase of myocardial collagen content (operating biopsy). Conclusions—One year after aortic valve replacement, we observed a significant reduction of left ventricular mass, and, only if pericardial indexed IBS value (reduction of interstitial fibrosis) decreased, it was possible to observe an improvement of EF and of IBS variation.

Major predictors of fibrous adherences in transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead extraction

BACKGROUND Percutaneous removal of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads is a difficult procedure because of the consequence of massive fibrous tissue growth along the lead. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe the occurrence and location of fibrous adherences in ICD lead extraction and to identify potential predictors among patient and lead characteristics. METHODS We studied 637 consecutive patients who underwent transvenous extraction of 678 ICD leads from 1997 to 2013. RESULTS Procedural success rate was 99%, without major complications. Areas of adherence were found in the subclavian vein (78%), innominate vein (65%), superior vena cava (66%), and heart (73%). Dwell-time, passive fixation, and dual-coil lead design were independently associated with adherences. Dual-coil lead design was associated with adherences in the innominate vein and superior vena cava, whereas coil treatment (eg, expandable polytetrafluoroethylene-coated or medical adhesive back-filled strategies) prevented adherences. Passive fixation mechanism was associated with adherences in the heart. CONCLUSION ICD leads, after long dwell-time, are affected by fibrous adherences uniformly distributed along the lead course. Lead features represent major predictors of the phenomenon. Careful lead selection is recommended at the time of implantation to prevent adherences. In addition, lead-related risk stratification is mandatory before a transvenous extraction procedure.

Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Early Myocardial Alterations in Adult Severely Obese Subjects

Objective: Aim of this study was to investigate the effect of weight loss on structural and functional myocardial alterations in severely obese subjects treated with bariatric surgery. Patients and Methods: Thirteen severely obese patients (2 males and 11 females) were enrolled in the study. All subjects underwent conventional 2D color Doppler echocardiography. The new ultrasonic techniques used were: (a) integrated backscatter for the analysis of myocardial reflectivity, referred to pericardial interface as expression of myocardial structure (increase in collagen content) and of cyclic variation index as expression of intrinsic myocardial contractility and (b) color Doppler myocardial imaging (CDMI) for the analysis of strain and strain rate (myocardial deformability). All subjects underwent bariatric surgery and were resubmitted to echocardiographic and biochemical examination 6–24 months after surgery. Results: The main finding of the present study was a quite complete normalization of myocardial functional and structural alterations after weight loss. In particular, the cyclic variation index at septum level improved from 14.6 ± 7.0 before to 25.7 ± 11.2 (means ± SD) after surgery (controls: 36.2 ± 9.1). Mean reflectivity at septum level significantly decreased from 55.8 ± 9.5 to 46.5 ± 8.8 (controls: 43.0 ± 8.0). Also, the strain at septum level significantly improved after surgery (from –11.9 ± 3.2 to –20.4 ± 5.3; controls: –23.4 ± 9). Conclusion: This study establishes: (a) the utility of new ultrasonic techniques to detect very early structural and functional myocardial alterations in severely obese patients, and (b) the regression of these subclinical abnormalities after weight loss achieved by bariatric surgery.

Large, Single-Center Experience in Transvenous Coronary Sinus Lead Extraction: Procedural Outcomes and Predictors for Mechanical Dilatation

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate procedural outcomes of coronary sinus (CS) lead extraction, focusing on predictors and need for mechanical dilatation (MD) in the event that manual traction (MT) is ineffective.

Intracardiac echocardiography in patients with pacing and defibrillating leads: a feasibility study.

Background: Lead extraction, an important and necessary component of treatment for many common device and lead‐related complications, is a procedure that can provoke much anxiety in even the most experienced operators given the potentially serious complications. The principal impediment to lead extraction is the bodys response to an intravascular foreign body with matrix intravascular neoformation, which causes the lead to adhere to the endocardium or vascular structure, increasing the risk of vascular or myocardial damage with lead removal. Fluoroscopic visualization, the commonly visualization used tool, has several limits in terms of anatomical structures visualization. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in patients undergoing pacing and defibrillating leads before and during a transvenous device removal, and its potential role in detecting intracardiac leads and areas of fibrous adherence. Methods: ICE interrogation was performed in 25 consecutive patients with pacing and defibrillating implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) leads before and during device removal. Results: A programmed ICE analysis was completed in 23 out of 25 patients with excellent resolution, providing a “qualitative‐quantitative” information on anatomical structures, cardiac leads, and related areas of fibrous adherence. No ICE‐related complications occurred. Conclusions: ICE evaluation is safe and feasible in patients with pacing and defibrillating leads before and during transvenous lead removal, offering an excellent visualization of cardiac leads and related areas of adherence. ICE can assist pacing and ICD lead removal and could improve procedure efficacy and safety.

Improvement of intrinsic myocardial contractility and cardiac fibrosis degree in acromegalic patients treated with somatostatin analogues: a prospective study

Background Acromegalic patients have increased left ventricular (LV) mass (M) and impaired diastolic function.

New-Onset Ventricular Tachycardia After Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

It is well established that coronary artery disease with healed myocardial infarction is the most common backdrop for ventricular tachycardia (VT). Although the clinical benefits of biventricular pacing (BivP) in the treatment of severe heart failure are well documented, exact relation with ventricular arrhythmias remains still unclear. We describe a case of a patient, whitout a previous history of arrhythmic episodes, in which the onset of several episodes of VT presented immediatly after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and did not occur after BivP discontinuation.

Safety and efficacy of internal transjugular approach for transvenous extraction of implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads

AIMS We report our 15 years experience of a mechanical single-sheath technique with a multiple venous entry-site approach. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of this technique in implantable defibrillator (ICD) lead extraction and investigated the potential association between clinical and lead-related factors and procedural complexity. METHODS AND RESULTS The proposed technique consists of an initial attempt at manual traction, followed by mechanical dilatation performed through the venous entry-site and, if necessary, by crossover to the internal transjugular approach. The study cohort comprised 545 consecutive patients referred to our institution for transvenous lead extraction from January 1997 to December 2012. Initial manual traction resulted in the effective removal of 6% of leads. Mechanical dilatation increased the success rate to 89% when performed through the venous entry-site, and to 99% when subsequently attempted via the internal jugular vein. No major complications were associated with lead extraction. Dwell-time, a passive fixation mechanism and dual-coil lead design were independently associated with the need for mechanical dilatation. However, dwell-time was the only variable associated with crossover to the internal transjugular approach. Specifically, a dwell-time of 20 months best predicted the need for venous entry-site mechanical dilatation, while a value of 55 months predicted crossover to the internal transjugular approach. CONCLUSION Mechanical transvenous extraction of ICD leads is a complex but safe and effective procedure. A longer lead dwell-time is associated with the need for mechanical dilatation and for crossover to the internal transjugular approach; this should be considered when planning the removal procedure. Moreover, passive lead fixation and dual-coil lead design predict a more challenging extraction procedure.