Tensile force of pacing lead extraction. A comparison between tined type and screw-in type.

Three months after implantation of endocardial pacing leads in 10 mongrel dogs, the tensile forces needed to remove 5 tined type and 5 screw-in type leads were compared experimentally. Mean maximum tensile force was 291 +/- 174 g with the screw-in type and 1174 +/- 369 g with the tined type (p < 0.01). Histopathologically, no changes suggesting any myocardial damage due to lead extraction were recognized in cases where screw-in type leads were used. These results support the clinical feasibility of safe and easy manual retraction of infected pacing leads of the screw-in type.