Excimer laser for pacemaker and defibrillator lead extraction: techniques and clinical results

. Pacing and defibrillation leads may need to be removed for several reasons including infection, interference with others leads, lack of vascular access or redundancy. However, the removal of chronically implanted leads is a major technical challenge because of the extensive adhesions that develop along the course of the leads over time. The techniques to remove chronic leads have been greatly facilitated by the development of an excimer laser sheath. We undertook an analysis of our experience with laser extraction in the first 50 leads attempted. An excimer laser sheath system, developed by the Spectranetics Corporation, was used to extract 50 chronically implanted leads in 34 patients. The mean patient age was 64±12 years, all were male and the average duration that the leads had been implanted was 5.0±3.9 years. Two-thirds of the leads were pacemaker and one-third were defibrillator leads. There was a 100% clinical success rate and 48 of the 50 leads were completely removed. There were no major complications. There was one minor complication of subclavian vein thrombosis and two haemodynamically non-significant episodes of air embolism. The main limitation observed was failure of the excimer laser sheath to advance in 18% of cases, probably due to the presence of calcified adherences on leads. Two strategies were found useful to deal with this problem: under the clavicle stainless-steel sheaths were used to break up calcified adherences and within the venous system the laser sheath was upsized in order to advance over the calcification on the lead. It was concluded that excimer laser has greatly facilitated the removal of chronically implanted pacemaker and defibrillator leads. There is a high success rate and low complication rate in our experience. The main limitation of laser is the presence of calcified adherences.     

Excimer Laser assisted extraction of permanent pacemaker and ICD leads: present experiences of a European multi-centre study

Objective: Excimer Laser technique can be used to extract leads. We present the European multi-centre experience. Method: The Spectranetics Excimer Laser is a Xenon-Chloride laser with a wavelength of 308 nm, not visible to the human eye. This cool cutting laser (50°C) has an absorption depth of 0.06 mm. The laser energy is emitted from the tip of flexible 12, 14 or 16 French (Fr) probes and is absorbed by proteins and lipids. The fibrotic sheaths usually surrounding leads can be cut without damaging the endothelial wall or the insulation of other leads. Results: From August 1996 to August 1998, 179 leads (104 atrial, 57 ventricular, one SVC, 17 ICD) in 149 patients (mean age 68.3 years, range 14–94) were extracted in 11 centres. Mean implantation time was 68.3 months (2.8–357.8). Most common indications were patient morbidity, non-function, pocket infection, septicaemia or endocarditis. Median extraction time was 10 min (1–189). Most procedures (78%) were performed in operating rooms. Complete extraction was achieved in 89.5% of the leads, 6% were partially extracted and 4.5% of the extractions failed. In the majority of the partial cases, only minor lead parts without clinical significance were left. Of the failures, 3/8 were completely removed by femoral non-laser approach, 1/8 with a right subclavian approach and 1/8 with thoracotomy. Complications were few but included one ventricular perforation that did not need surgery; two other perforations were related to the reimplantation of leads and required surgery. Mean hospital stay was 3 days and all patients were discharged well and alive. Conclusions: Excimer Laser assisted lead extraction is a safe and efficacious procedure. Open-chest extractions are still necessary but can be limited to very selected cases. These initial results may widen indications from mandatory to include the extraction of many non-functional leads, previously abandoned.     

心脏植入型电子器械患者的围手术期管理

背景 心脏植入型电子器械(cardiac implantable electronic devices,CIEDs)包括起搏器、植入型心律转复除颤器(implantable cardioverter defibrillators,ICDs)和心脏再同步治疗(cardiac resynchronization therapy,CRT)装置.目前中国每年安装ICDs 2 000多台、CRT装置约为2 200台,每年每百万人口安装心脏起搏器38台. 目的 帮助麻醉医师掌握CIEDs患者的围手术期管理技术. 内容 回顾CIEDs患者的围手术期管理. 趋向 CIEDs患者可能需要接受外科手术或胃肠镜等微创手术.围手术期CIEDs患者管理情况比较复杂,迄今为止也很少有关于围手术期CIEDs管理的指南.     

Anesthetic management of a patient undergoing cardioverter defibrillator implantation: usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography and near infrared spectroscopy

A case of a patient with sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) undergoing implantable cardiovertor defibrillator (ICD) implantation, using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is described. A 67-year-old man with sustained VT associated with old myocardial infarction underwent ICD implantation. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl and propofol and maintained with nitrous oxide, oxygen, sevoflurane, and fentanyl. Global hypokinesis of the left ventricle was observed in the short-axis view provided by TEE. Intraoperative systolic blood pressure was maintained between 100 and 120mmHg, and cerebral oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) was between 63% and 65%. During periods of induced ventricular fibrillation, systolic blood pressure decreased to 60mmHg, HbO2 decreased to 59%, and TEE revealed cardiac arrest. These changes were transient; HbO2 returned to baseline values immediately after the restoration of normal rhythm. TEE confirmed no remarkable change in cardiac function after defibrillation testing. TEE and NIR were found to be beneficial for the anesthetic management of a patient with sustained VT who was underdoing ICD implantation.     

Safety and efficacy of intraoperative gastric feeding during burn surgery

BackgroundLarge burns are associated with a dramatic increase in metabolic demand, and adequate nutrition is vital to prevent poor wound healing and septic complications. However, enteral nutrition (EN) support is frequently withheld perioperatively, risking nutritional deficits. We retrospectively examined the safety and feasibility of continuing EN during surgery in patients with an established airway, and estimated the impact of perioperative fasting on overall caloric intake.MethodsMechanically ventilated patients admitted to our urban, verified burn center between January 2012 and July 2017 with greater than 20% total body surface area (TBSA) burns were included in this retrospective analysis. The total volume of EN received by the patient during each 24-h period and goal EN volume as determined by a clinical dietitian were collected.ResultsA total of 45 patients met criteria with mean TBSA of 44% (range 20–84%). Most patients had a gastric feeding tube (86%). Each patient underwent a median of 4 operations (range 1–33) for a total of 249 operative days and 991 non-operative days. There were no aspiration events. On non-operative days, patients met 85% of estimated caloric needs. EN was held on 170 operative days (69%), and on these days, only 34% of total caloric needs were met. EN was continued on 77 operative days (31%), and on these days, 95% of total caloric needs were met (p < 0.001). Patients who had EN held for at least 50% of operative procedures (n = 30) met only 69% of caloric goals while intubated. By comparison, patients who had EN continued for a majority of procedures (n = 15) met 81% of caloric goals (p = 0.002).ConclusionsContinuing EN intraoperatively in patients with an established airway appears to be a safe and efficacious way to meet patients’ nutritional needs, including when feeding is delivered via a gastric route. This is particularly important given that placement of nasojejunal feeding tubes can be difficult, particularly in resource-poor settings where endoscopic or fluoroscopic-guided placement may not be practical.     

Safety and preliminary efficacy of functional electrical stimulation cycling in an individual with cervical cord injury,autonomic dysreflexia,and a pacemaker: Case report

Context: Functional electric stimulation (FES) cycling is a commonly used therapeutic exercise modality after spinal cord injury (SCI); however, additional precautions must be taken in certain situations. The purpose of this study was to develop and apply a safety monitoring protocol for autonomic dysreflexia (AD) during FES cycling and to determine if an interval-FES cycling program can be safe and beneficial to an individual with cervical SCI, a history of AD, and a non-dependent cardiac pacemaker.The participant was a 36-year-old male with C6 AIS-C SCI sustained 9 years earlier, intermittent AD, and implanted cardiac pacemaker. Ten sessions of interval-FES cycling were performed twice weekly for 5 weeks. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE), blood pressure (BP), oxygen saturation (O2sat), and heart rate (HR) were monitored before, after, and every 5 min during cycling. ECG and cardiac pacemaker were evaluated by a cardiologist after ending the program.Findings: The participant reported self-limited chills 27 times over 10 sessions (19 “light”, 3 “moderate”, 5 “sharp”). Chills coincided with BP increases 59% of the time and their magnitudes moderately correlated (r = 0.32). The ECG was determined to be normal and the pacemaker fully functional at the end of the study, while blood glucose decreased (111–105 mg/dl), HbA1c levels increased (5.5–5.9%), and resting BP decreased (118/84–108/66 mmHg).Conclusion/Clinical Relevance: A person with cervical SCI, symptomatic AD, and a non-dependent pacemaker can safely participate and benefit from the interval-FES cycling program provided adequate monitoring of symptoms and vital signs.     

钬激光治疗非肌层浸润性膀胱肿瘤的疗效与安全性评价

目的 以TURBt作为对照,评价经尿道钬激光膀胱肿瘤切除术(HoLRBt)治疗非肌层浸润性膀胱肿瘤的疗效与安全性. 方法 回顾性研究212例原发性膀胱肿瘤患者临床资料.按治疗方式分为HoLRBt组(n=101)和TURBt组(n=111),每组患者按复发风险分为低、中及高危3个亚组.比较2组患者术前、术中和术后相关临床指标,Kaplan-Meier分析比较2组整体及每个亚组的无复发生存率(RFS). 结果 2组患者性别、年龄、肿瘤特点、复发风险等比较差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).HoLRBt组未发生闭孔神经反射,TURBt组发生闭孔神经反射7例(6.3%)、膀胱穿孔3例(2.7%).HoLRBt组术后需要膀胱冲洗患者比例(23.8%)、留置尿管时间[(1.4±0.5)d]和术后住院时间[(2.9±0.7)d]均＜TURBt组(P＜0.05),后者分别为36.9%、(2.5±0.9)d、(4.4±1.1)d.平均随访34(18～43)个月,Kaplan-Meier分析HoLRBt与TURBt组RFS差异无统计学意义(P=0.283).其中HoLRBt组1、2、3年RFS分别为81.4%、69.5%、56.5%,TURBt组分别为75.6%、60.1%、45.2%.结论 HoLRBt治疗非肌层浸润性膀胱肿瘤近期RFS与TURBt相近,术中并发症及术后恢复时间优于TURBt.     

极低蛋白饮食治疗严重慢性肾功能不全的安全性和有效性

目的观察在不补充必需氨基酸或其酮酸情况下,极低蛋白饮食对严重慢性肾功能不全患者营养状态及肾功能的影响.方法37例慢性肾功能不全患者[Scr(588.2±123.5)μmol/L,Ccr(9.77±3.48)ml@min-1@(1.73m2)-1]按实际蛋白摄入量分成两组极低蛋白饮食治疗组[VLPD,蛋白摄入量(0.33±0.04)g@kg-1@d-1],20例;低蛋白饮食治疗组[LPD,蛋白质摄人量为(0.60±0.11)g@kg-1@d-1],17例.观察患者的顺应性、营养相关生化指标及肾功能进展.结果(1)患者对极低蛋白饮食有较好的耐受性,无一例患者出现蛋白营养不良征象,观察期间患者血清白蛋白浓度稳定.和低蛋白饮食相比,极低蛋白饮食患者血清白蛋白浓度升高(P＜0.05).5例VLPD患者虽然蛋白质摄入量持续低于0.3 g@kg-1@d-1,但经过最长53个月治疗,血清白蛋白仍能维持正常范围.(2)虽然两组患者血清转铁蛋白浓度有下降趋势,但仍保持在正常范围.(3)和VLPD组比较,LPD组患者血HCO3-水平明显降低(P＜0.05),且VLPD组患者为治疗代谢性酸中毒所使用的碳酸氢盐剂量明显低于LPD组(P＜0.05).(4)两组患者血清磷浓度保持正常,LPD组增高趋势较明显,但差异无显著性意义(P＞0.05).VLPD组服用肠道磷结合剂的剂量明显小于LPD组(P＜0.05).(5)VLPD及LPD组患者肾功能不全进展速度分别为(0.125±0.072)和(0.214±0.017)ml@min-1@月-1,VLPD组显著慢于LPD组(P＜0.01),而且两组患者肾功能下降速度均明显低于文献报道(平均0.3ml@min-1@月-1).在进入透析治疗阶段,VLPD组的Ccr明显低于LPD组[(3.07±1.17)vs(8.46±2.57)ml@min-1@(1.73m2)-1].LPD组患者在(33.4±6.5)个月内进入透析治疗,而VLPD组患者从治疗开始到进入透析治疗平均(72.0±33.5)个月,比LPD组推迟4～5年.结论在未补充必需氨基酸或其酮酸的情况下,极低蛋白饮食治疗可以安全地用于透析导入前的慢性肾衰患者.其通过改善尿毒症消化道症状而维持患者营养状态,并能有效地纠正慢性肾衰伴随的代谢紊乱,减少合并症,从而推迟开始透析治疗时间.     

超声乳化白内障吸出术与小切口非超声乳化囊外摘除术治疗高龄白内障的疗效比较

目的：比较超声乳化白内障吸出术与小切口非超声乳化囊外摘除术治疗高龄白内障的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析高龄白内障患者58例的临床资料。其中30例患者采用超声乳化白内障吸出术治疗,28例患者采用小切口非超声乳化囊外摘除术治疗,比较两组的临床疗效。结果两组术后视力均有显著提高（P＜0.01）。超声乳化组在术后1周视力高于小切口组（P＜0.01）,但术后1个月和3个月,两组视力没有显著差异（P＞0.05）。两组术后并发症发生率比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论小切口非超声乳化囊外摘除术治疗高龄白内障与超声乳化白内障吸出术疗效相似,但具有操作更简单,设备要求简单,费用低等优点。