What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: Heart failure with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block (n=1). Intervention: Radiofrequency (RF)-assisted release strategy. Primary outcome: Successful disengagement and removal of entrapped helix.

March 31, 2026HeartRhythm Case Reports1 citationsOpen Access

Radiofrequency-assisted removal of an entrapped retractable active-fixation helix during left bundle branch area pacing implantation

Key Result

Brief, temperature-controlled radiofrequency energy delivery successfully facilitated the controlled release of an entrapped active-fixation helix during left bundle branch area pacing implantation.

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=1)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does radiofrequency energy delivery facilitate the safe removal of an entrapped active-fixation helix during left bundle branch area pacing implantation?

Population

A 62-year-old woman with symptomatic heart failure owing to nonischemic cardiomyopathy and LBBB (QRS duration ≥150 ms, reduced LVEF) referred for cardiac resynchronization therapy via left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP).

Intervention

Radiofrequency-assisted release of an entrapped retractable active-fixation helix (Solia S 60 pacing lead) using a unipolar RF generator connected to a reprocessed ablation catheter, delivered in temperature-controlled mode (maximum 50°C, titrated from 20 W to 35 W).

Outcome

Successful disengagement and removal of the entrapped helix without retained fragments or complications.

Brief, temperature-controlled radiofrequency energy delivery can serve as an effective bailout strategy to safely release an entrapped active-fixation helix during LBBAP implantation.

Limitations

Histologic outcomes and extent of septal injury were not directly measured
Long-term substrate imaging was not performed to assess residual scar and theoretical arrhythmic relevance

Perguntar à IA

Bookmark

View Full Paper