Right ventricular (RV) lead perforations are relatively rare but a potentially life-threatening complication of surgical implantations of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). The result of percutaneous simple lead traction after lead perforations in the Japanese population has not been well clarified.We retrospectively studied 1359 patients (pacemakers [PMs], 973 patients; implantable cardioverter defibrillators [ICD], 386 patients) from April 2007 to December 2018 who underwent initial CIED implantation. Fifteen patients (1.1%) were diagnosed with RV lead perforations. The clinical data were evaluated in those patients, and the baseline characteristics and echocardiographic data were compared between the lead perforation group and the non-perforation group. The success and complication rates of the simple traction and repositioning of the RV lead were also assessed.The number of perforated RV leads was seven ICD leads (1.8%) and eight PM leads (0.82%). They were diagnosed on a median seven days (5.5-36.0) after the CIED implantation. Twelve patients were asymptomatic but were detected by an increased capture threshold. Three patients had pericarditis and stimulation of the diaphragm. Only one patient in the ICD lead group who took anticoagulants had a cardiac tamponade and needed an urgent pericardiocentesis (0.07%). No one required a thoracotomy or other devices related to complications after repositioning the RV lead. There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics and echocardiographic parameters between the groups.RV lead perforations were relatively rare complications of CIED implantations. Percutaneous simple lead traction and repositioning the perforated lead was feasible and effective if the patients did not receive anticoagulants.
Keywords: Cardiac tamponade; Implantable cardioverter defibrillator; Lead perforation; Pacemaker.