Lead extraction mortality ‘double previous estimate’

US study looks at results for 60,000 patients
Reuters Health Staff writer
Cardiac interventionalist in the cath lab

Complications and death occur much more frequently than expected in transvenous lead extractions for infections related to cardiac implantable electronic devices (IEDs), a US study reveals.

Researchers analysed data from the US National Inpatient Sample to investigate the rates of major adverse events in patients admitted for lead extraction for device-related infections.