In this Article

• When is a heart lead extraction needed?
• How do I prepare for this procedure?
• What to expect from heart lead extraction
• After the lead extraction procedure
• Heart Lead Extraction Index

After the Procedure:

• The doctor will remove the sheath.
• You will be admitted to the hospital overnight. You will be placed on a special monitor called telemetry that allows your heart rhythm to be displayed on monitors in the nursing unit.
• If you had new leads and a pacemaker implanted, you will also have a Holter monitor to record your heart rhythm for several hours. This is another way to check proper pacemaker function.
• If the femoral approach was used, you will need to lay flat in bed for several hours after the procedure.
• The morning after your lead extraction you will have a chest x-ray to check your lungs and the position of any new leads that may have been implanted.
• Before you leave the hospital, your doctor and nurse will talk to you about activity, medications or any follow-up appointments.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• Pacemaker - Learn about the pacemaker - an electronic device used to treat patients with abnormally slow or irregular heartbeats on MedicineNet.com
• Atrial Fibrillation - Learn about atrial fibrillation including what it is, what happens during atrial fibrillation, symptoms, risk factors, how it is diagnosed, and how it is treated
• Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators -

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