According to a recent study published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, previously abandoned pacemaker and implantable defibrillator leads which have been capped off and left behind following replacement were harder to extract later.  These abandoned leads also made it more difficult to treat device infections.

When interviewed about the significance of these study results, several physicians knowledgeable in the field further emphasized that lead removal requires special skill and equipment not typical for the average physician who implants cardiac devices.  Hence, patients facing a potential lead extraction should consider their options carefully and seek care from a specialist in lead extraction.