Initial experience in the extraction of chronically implanted pacemaker leads using the Excimer laser sheath

摘要

To assess the safety and effi- ciency of the Excimer laser sheath in extracting chronically implanted pace- maker Leads. Patients-Eight patients were studied (one female, mean age 62 years, range 34 to 77) with 17 pacemaker leads (five atrial, 10 ventricular, two implantable defibrilla- tor). The mean implantation time was 65 months (range 23 to 188).