Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): There is a class I recommendation for lead extraction in cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections. However, in patients supported by left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) the calculus is more complicated due to multiple prior vascular accesses, long lead dwell times, LVAD hardware infections, and the inherent risks of performing invasive procedures in a hemodynamically fragile population. Comprehensive outcome data to guide management in this subset of patients is limited.

We aimed to evaluate the procedural efficacy, complication rates, and mortality following CIED lead extraction in patients with LVADs who developed device-related infections.

A systematic literature review of five electronic databases was conducted. We included all published studies of LVAD patients undergoing lead extraction for CIED-related infection and our unpublished, retrospectively gathered institutional cohort. The primary outcome was the pooled rate of complete procedural success. Secondary outcomes included minor and major procedural complications and 30-day and 1-year mortality. Outcomes of interest were pooled and analyzed using a random-effects model (DerSimonian-Laird). Heterogeneity was quantified using I^2 and τ^2 statistics.

Seven published observational studies and our unpublished institutional data comprised 88 patients (22.7% female, mean age 58.7 years). The pooled rate of complete procedural success was 91% [95% CI: 86%–94%]. Minor complications occurred in 12% [95% CI: 9%–17%]. The 30-day mortality was 18% [95% CI: 3%–60%] and the 1-year mortality was 30% [95% CI: 17%–49%]. Heterogeneity was low to moderate across outcomes (I^2: 0–31.5%). No procedural mortality or major complications were reported.

CIED lead extraction in LVAD recipients with device-related infection is associated with high procedural success and low complication rates. The lack of major complications associated with lead extractions suggests that the high post-extraction mortality is a consequence of the high-risk population rather than the procedure itself. Our results suggest that when clinically indicated, CIED lead extraction in LVAD recipients is a feasible and effective intervention.