This article demonstrates the echocardiographic method to assess the placement of pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads in the vicinity of the superior vena cava as a way to increase the safety of transvenous lead extraction (TLE). Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 3 patients during TLE with the use of the Specranetics Excimer Laser device. We assessed the following parameters: lead adherence to the lateral wall of the vessel and lead movement. This method increased the safety of the performed TLE.
This article demonstrates the echocardiographic method to assess the placement of pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads in the vicinity of the superior vena cava as a way to increase the safety of transvenous lead extraction (TLE). Three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 3 patients during TLE with the use of the Specranetics Excimer Laser device. We assessed the following parameters: lead adherence to the lateral wall of the vessel and lead movement. This method increased the safety of the performed TLE.