Saint Alphonsus Completes First Laser Lead Extraction in Idaho

Innovative procedure makes it easier and safer to remove pacemaker leads

It is likely that someone you know has a pacemaker. An estimated three million Americans live with pacemakers, which send electronic pulses to help their hearts maintain a normal beat and rhythm.

Since pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) were invented 50 years ago, these devices have improved the quality of life and extended the longevity of many patients, often beyond the expected lifespan of the device itself. Recent years have brought tremendous growth in the utilization of pacemakers and ICDs. As more patients live longer, the issue of managing these implanted devices has become a greater concern.

Pacemakers use wires, called leads, to connect the device to the heart. While intended to be permanent, occasionally these leads become compromised and need to be removed. There may also be a need to remove and replace the pacemaker or ICD due to an infection, malfunction, or upgrade. Abandoned and capped leads stand in the way of good health. Physicians are making great strides in the development of guidelines and protocols for lead extraction.

Removing the leads used to involve an invasive procedure, where the wires were physically cut away from the walls of the heart. However, there is now a better and safer way to remove these leads. Saint Alphonsus is proud to be the first in Idaho to introduce this new procedure.

Our Electrophysiology team is using Philips’ new laser lead extraction technology that makes the procedure safer and more effective. The laser is more efficient than the mechanical cutting of the tissue from the lead. The cool laser ablates (removes tissue) at a width that is less than a human hair and it creates residual waste that is smaller than a blood cell so it is cleared from the body. This allows for the safe removal of the wires.

Before Saint Alphonsus offered this technology, pacemaker patients had to travel to Salt Lake City or Seattle for this advanced procedure. The first patient to have the laser lead extraction, a 67-year-old Eagle resident, spent one night in the hospital after having his pacemaker removed and replaced with another device, a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator to improve the efficiency of his heartbeat. He’s doing well and appreciates that he could get his procedure done without leaving the Treasure Valley.

At Saint Alphonsus, we are committed to providing state-of-the-art procedures so that all our patients can live happy, healthy, and productive lives. To learn more about our proactive lead management program, visit our Electrophysiology Cardiology pages on the Saint Alphonsus website.

Dr. Adam Grimaldi, MD iis the medical director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology program at Saint Alphonsus Heart Institute.