Surgical removal of an Accufix pacing lead with a protruding J wire

Abstract

We report a patient with a fractured J wire protruding through the outer polyurethane sheath of an Accufix electrode in the subclavian vein and right atrium. The wire within the subclavian vein was removed transvenously, while the tip of the lead within the right atrium was removed surgically via a median sternotomy.