Temporary external implantable cardioverter-defibrillator as a bridge to reimplantation after infected device extraction

Abstract

Patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) and endovascular infection represent a difficult management group. The explantation of an implantable cardioverter- defibrillator (ICD) system deprives the patient of the protection against life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In this study, we describe feasibility and clinical outcomes of bridging with temporary dual-coil ICD lead and external ICD following the extraction of a CIED due to endovascular infection and compare the performance of this approach to other available options.