Internal Mammary Arterial Injury from Lead Extraction: A Clinically Subtle yet Important Complication of Implantable Device Removal

Abstract

Percutaneous implantable device extraction has increased in recent years and is associated with small but significant risk. Arteriovenous fistula formation is an uncommon complication of this procedure. We report two cases where lead extraction was complicated by an arteriovenous fistula between the left internal mammary artery and the left brachiocephalic vein. In both cases, the patients were asymptomatic and the presence of a continuous murmur in the left subclavicular region led to the appropriate diagnosis. These were successfully treated with coil embolization. Auscultation around prior extraction sites should be routinely done to aid in the diagnosis of this potentially harmful complication.