Basma El Sawaf

Departement of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Arrhythmology, San Raffaele Hospital, Milano, Italy.

1 publication 2023 – 2023
Electrodes, ImplantedDefibrillators, ImplantablePacemaker, ArtificialDevice Removal

What does Basma El Sawaf research?

Basma El Sawaf studies how to remove old heart leads safely, particularly in patients who have had these leads in place for over a decade. Heart leads are thin wires that connect a pacemaker to the heart and can sometimes need to be removed due to complications or other health issues. In her recent research, she uses advanced tools, known as bidirectional rotational mechanical sheaths, to extract these leads without significant risks. By focusing on older patients, her work aims to enhance their health outcomes and reduce potential complications from older leads.

Key findings

  • In a study of 441 leads from 189 patients, 94.8% of the leads were completely extracted successfully.
  • Only 1.8% of lead extractions failed, indicating a very high success rate.
  • The complication rate during the extraction process was low at just 2%, showcasing the safety of the procedure in older patients.

Frequently asked questions

Does Dr. El Sawaf study heart lead removal?
Yes, Dr. El Sawaf specializes in the safe extraction of old heart leads.
What is the success rate of the procedures Dr. El Sawaf studies?
The success rate of removing old heart leads in her research is 94.8%.
Are the techniques Dr. El Sawaf uses safe for older patients?
Yes, her studies show a low complication rate of just 2%, making these techniques safe for older patients.

Publications in plain English

Outcomes of transvenous lead extraction of very old leads using bidirectional rotational mechanical sheaths: Results of a multicentre study.

2023

Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology

Migliore F, Pittorru R, Dall'Aglio PB, De Lazzari M, Rovaris G +12 more

Plain English
This study examined the success and safety of removing old heart leads using special tools in patients whose leads had been in place for more than 10 years. Out of 441 leads from 189 patients, 94.8% were completely removed successfully, with only 1.8% failing to be extracted and a low complication rate of 2%. These results are important because they show that lead extraction can be done safely and effectively in older patients who need it, which can improve their health and reduce complications. Who this helps: This benefits patients with old heart leads and their doctors.

PubMed

Publication data sourced from PubMed . Plain-English summaries generated by AI. Not medical advice.