Central venous stenosis associated with pacemaker leads: short-term results of endovascular interventions.

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and outcomes of performing endovascular interventions across pacemaker (PM) lead-related central vein stenosis/occlusion.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Clinical and imaging records from April 2002 to August 2010 were reviewed for patients presenting with clinically significant central venous stenosis or central venous obstruction with indwelling PM leads and were evaluated to determine if any lead dysfunction or complications occurred following intervention. Thirteen patients were identified who underwent 14 interventions. Outcomes were assessed based on recurrent clinical symptoms and repeat venograms, and patency was determined with Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

All procedures were technically successful (100%) with no procedural complications. All patients underwent balloon angioplasty; two patients also underwent stent placement for persistent flow-limiting stenosis within the superior vena cava. No incidence of PM or lead dysfunction, infection, or need for PM intervention was identified in any patient at the time of the index procedure and at 30 or 90 days. In the two patients who received stents across PM leads, no manifestations of PM or lead dysfunction or infection, or need for intervention, were identified at 1 year after stent placement in one patient and at 3 years in the other patient. For eight patients, sufficient follow-up studies were available, with 30-, 60-, and 120-day primary patency rates of 87.5%, 75%, and 50%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular interventions across PM leads resulted in no adverse clinical cardiac or PM sequelae, but with limited primary patency compared with historical outcomes for central venous interventions in the absence of PM leads.