What Important Information Does Transesophageal Echocardiography Provide When Performed before Transvenous Lead Extraction?

<b>Background:</b> Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is mandatory before transvenous lead extraction (TLE), but its usefulness remains underestimated. This study aims to describe the broad range of TEE findings in TLE candidates, as well as their influence on procedure complexity, major complications (MCs) and long-term survival. <b>Methods:</b> Preoperative TEE was performed in 1191 patients undergoing TLE. <b>Results:</b> Lead thickening (OR = 1.536; <i>p</i> = 0.007), lead adhesion to heart structures (OR = 2.531; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and abnormally long lead loops (OR = 1.632; <i>p</i> = 0.006) increased the complexity of TLE. Vegetation-like masses on the lead (OR = 4.080; <i>p</i> = 0.44), lead thickening (OR = 2.389; <i>p</i> = 0.049) and lead adhesion to heart structures (OR = 6.341; <i>p</i> < 0.001) increased the rate of MCs. The presence of vegetations (HR = 7.254; <i>p</i> < 0.001) was the strongest predictor of death during a 1-year follow-up period. <b>Conclusions:</b> TEE before TLE provides a lot of important information for the operator. Apart from the visualization of possible vegetations, it can also detect various forms of lead-related scar tissue. Build-up of scar tissue and the presence of long lead loops are associated with increased complexity of the procedure and risk of MCs. Preoperative TEE performed outside the operating room may have an impact on the clinical decision-making process, such as transferring potentially more difficult patients to a more experienced center or having the procedure performed by the most experienced operator. Moreover, the presence of masses or vegetations on the leads significantly increases 1-year and all-cause mortality.