Lead extraction for pacemakers & ICDs
Find a heart specialistMillions of people worldwide have a pacemaker or an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) that delivers energy to the heart through wires called leads. Over time, you may need a lead extraction to repair or replace these wires to ensure your device continues to properly function.
Our heart specialists at Aurora Health Care are here to perform lead extractions and keep your devices working properly. Each year, we safely replace the leads for more than 100 pacemakers and defibrillators, helping people return to their family, work and daily activities.
What is lead extraction?
Lead extraction is a delicate operation where a surgeon carefully removes the wires from a blood vessel leading to the heart. It’s usually a quick procedure to repair or replace the wires in your pacemaker or defibrillator.
You'll see your surgeon for personalized guidelines to prepare for surgery including:
- Refraining from eating or drinking anything after midnight the night before your procedure
- Giving instructions on how to get ready for your procedure including any medications you may need to stop taking
- Answering your questions and concerns
Before the procedure, your surgeon will review your records and imaging to plan the lead extraction approach. We make the smallest incision possible and use the least-invasive technique, so that you’ll have the best results and be as comfortable as possible afterward.
You’ll receive a general anesthetic, so you’ll be asleep before the procedure begins.
Working in the area with the pacemaker or defibrillator, your surgeon will use a precision laser and other tools to carefully remove any scar tissue that’s grown around the lead.
After the leads are removed, we’ll place new leads and a new device.
You’ll stay in the hospital for a day or two. Be sure to arrange for someone to give you a ride home once you’re discharged.
If your device and leads were infected, you may need to be treated with antibiotics for a few days before the new leads and device can be placed.
You’ll want to take off a few days from work so you can rest and heal. Your doctor will let you know when you can resume regular activities such as driving.
Be sure to keep your follow-up appointments so your doctor can test and program the pacemaker or defibrillator to ensure it’s working properly.
Placing your trust in our team
People from around eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois choose our hospitals and clinics for our track record of safety and excellence. You can feel confident with our:
- National ranking: U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks our heart program among the best in the country. We’re dedicated to improving and transforming heart care.
- Top team: Our cardiovascular team uses the most advanced techniques to perform lead extraction.
- Sophisticated tools: Our surgeons have experience with the full range of surgical tools to extract leads, including precise lasers and many types of catheters.
- Minimally invasive techniques: Our surgeons have devised innovative techniques to perform delicate lead extractions. We’ve presented our results in medical publications and at conferences. Because of our reputation as extraction leaders, we are among the first to be invited to try the newest techniques and devices. We even teach other surgeons how to perform lead extraction procedures.
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