Arteriovenous fistula between the left common carotid artery and left innominate vein following laser sheath pacemaker lead extraction

Percutaneous extraction of pacemaker and defibrillator leads is considered a safe and effective procedure in up to 97% of cases, with lower morbidity compared with open thoracic surgery. This technique eliminates the need for surgical retrieval of retained leads and enables a minimally invasive approach, even in infected leads, with an average procedure time between 6 and 10 minutes. A 78-year-old male was admitted with an unusual case of arteriovenous fistula following laser sheath-assisted lead extraction that required open surgical intervention while using cardiopulmonary bypass. This surgical technique would be an important alternative in the management of these patients.