This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Topic Collections  • Pacemakers/ Defibrillators  • Injury Prevention & Control  • Cardiovascular System  • Quality of Care  • Patient Safety/ Medical Error  • Arrhythmias  • Cardiovascular Intervention  • Alert me on articles by topic  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Mike Mitka

JAMA. 2009;302(3):244-245.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

While researchers and device makers have focused on improving the safety and efficacy of pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and other cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, issues surrounding the lead wires that connect these tools to the myocardium have received less attention. But that dynamic is changing.

The Heart Rhythm Society has issued recommendations for policies and guidelines on lead performance and a consensus statement on transvenous lead extraction. The documents were released during the society's May scientific sessions in Boston.

NEED FOR GUIDANCE

Millions of patients are now living with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices. Studies have shown lead failure rates of between 1% and 9% at 2 years and up to 28% at 8 years. Simply replacing leads is not always an option; the procedure is associated with risk of complications, and mortality rates of more than 1% have been reported.

"There are times when leads can develop problems," said Richard L. Page, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?