By Tim Mastro

LEWES — A multidisciplinary team of clinicians completed the first lead extraction cases at Beebe Healthcare’s Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus.

Cardiovascular teams in the catheterization lab and operating room collaborated for many months to assemble a team to diagnose and treat patients with infected cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, such as pacemakers and implantable defibrillators.

Lead extraction is necessary when the clinical team determines that the benefits outweigh the risk. Leads are attached to the device to help anchor to the heart and transmit the devices programed action. However, occasionally the area can become infected after implantation or a lead can become faulty or recalled. Failure to remove the device is a life-threatening decision, and antibiotic treatments pose a risk of resistance and are only a temporary resolution.

Lead extraction, through a complex procedure, removes the device and implants a new one so that the patient’s heart can continue to receive the necessary arrhythmia adjustment.

Two patients recently underwent the procedure at Beebe and returned home just after one night.