Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Safety of catheter ablation in patients with recently implanted cardiac implantable electronic device: A 5-year
Christian Toquica1, Mohammad-Ali Jazayeri1, Amit Noheria1
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Kansas Health System, Kansas City, USA.
Insights
Catheter ablation (CA) is safe within one year of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation, showing a low risk of malfunction or lead dislodgement. Further research is needed to determine the optimal timing for CA post-CIED procedures.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Catheter ablation (CA) may interfere with cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) function.
- The safety of performing CA within the first year after CIED implantation or lead revision is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and frequency of device/lead malfunctions after CA in patients who recently underwent CIED implantation or lead revision.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed patients who underwent CA between 2012 and 2017.
- Included patients had a CIED implant or lead revision within the preceding year.
- Assessed frequency of lead dislodgement, CIED dysfunction, and infection post-CA.
Main Results:
- Out of 170 CA procedures in patients within a year of CIED work, only one instance (0.6%) of atrial lead dislodgement occurred.
- No power-on-reset events or CIED-related infections were observed.
- Slight decreases in atrial and ventricular lead impedance were noted post-CA, but sensing and thresholds remained stable.
Conclusions:
- Catheter ablation can be safely performed within one year of CIED implantation/lead revision.
- The risk of CIED/lead malfunction or dislodgement is low in this patient group.
- The optimal timing for CA after CIED procedures remains uncertain.
Introduction:
Catheter ablation (CA) can interfere with cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) function. The safety of CA in the 1st year after CIED implantation/lead revision is uncertain.
Methods:
This single center, retrospective cohort included patients who underwent CA between 2012 and 2017 and had a CIED implant/lead revision within the preceding year. We assessed the frequency of device/lead malfunctions in this population.
Results:
We identified 1810 CAs in patients between 2012 and 2017, with 170 CAs in 163 patients within a year of a CIED implant/lead revision. Mean age 68 ± 12 years (68% men). Time between the CIED procedure and CA was 158 ± 99 days. The CA procedures included AF ablation (n = 57, 34%), AV node ablation (n = 40, 24%), SVT ablation (n = 37, 22%), and PVC/VT ablations (n = 36, 21%). The cumulative frequency of lead dislodgement, significant CIED dysfunction, and/or CIED-related infection following CA was (n = 1/170, 0.6%). There was a single atrial lead dislodgement (0.6%). There were no instances of power-on-reset or CIED-related infection. Following CA, there was no significant difference in RA or RV lead sensing (p = 0.52 and 0.84 respectively) or thresholds (p = 0.94 and 0.17 respectively). The RA impedance slightly decreased post-CA from 474 ± 80 Ohms to 460 ± 73 Ohms (p = 0.002), as did the RV impedance (from 515 ± 111 Ohms to 497 ± 98 Ohms, p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
CA can be performed within 1 year following CIED implantation/lead revision with a low risk of CIED/lead malfunction or lead dislodgement. The ideal time to perform CA after a CIED remains uncertain.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview
01:24Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization
01:26Cardiac Catheterization IV: Nursing Management