The leadconnection's Podcast

Surgical Backup in Lead Extraction: A Conversation Between EP & Cardiac Surgery

Does having cardiac surgical backup really make a difference from the surgeon perspective? In this episode, electrophysiologist Dr. Tom Callahan and cardiac surgeon Dr. Shinya Unai share insights on surgical backup strategies, why patient selection matters, and what happens when emergencies arise

When to Extract: Navigating Safety Advisories

In this episode of the Lead Connection Podcast, Dr. Charles Love, Director of Cardiac Rhythm Device Management at Johns Hopkins, joins Dr. Tom Callahan to explore the complexities of lead advisories—focusing on the recent Reliance ePTFE lead advisory. Together, they unpack the history behind this unique lead design, discuss its clinical implications, and examine the broader challenges of managing lead advisories.

Assessing the Need for Surgical Backup in TLE

In this episode, we’ll be diving into assessing the need for surgical backup in transvenous lead extraction (TLE). With limited resources and varying case complexities, how do we determine which patients require the highest level of surgical readiness? Dr. Arwa Younis, staff electrophysiologist at Cleveland Clinic will discuss his recent study findings on this topic and their implications for clinical practice.

Barriers & Strategies to Improve Lead Management with Dr. Emily Zeitler

Despite its proven benefits, transvenous lead extraction (TLE) remains underutilized in both infectious and non-infectious scenarios. In this insightful conversation, Dr. Tom Callahan is joined by Dr. Emily Zeitler — Director of Lead Management at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine and Dartmouth Institute. A recognized thought leader and frequent speaker at national conferences, Dr. Zeitler shares her expertise on the barriers to TLE and explores practical strategies to improve lead management practices.

The vital role of extraction coordinator with Dr. Chris Healy

A lead extraction coordinator can be a valuable addition to a lead management program. Drs. Chris Healy and Tom Callahan discuss how this role can enhance program efficiency, cost-effectiveness, safety, and patient satisfaction. 

Lead Management Training with Dr. Steve Liskov

Lead extraction takes a combination of science, knowledge of lead construction, technique and creativity. Dr. Tom Callahan talks with Dr. Steve Liskov, a PGY-8 Cardiac Electrophysiology fellow at Johns Hopkins University about his training experience. Steve will return to Lankenau Medical Center in July 2025 as EP faculty.

Abandoned Leads with Dr. Anne Kroman

Abandoned leads are a major challenge in lead management. Dr. Anne Kroman, Director of Lead Management and Director of the Cardiac Device Clinic at the Medical University of South Carolina, sits down with Dr. Tom Callahan to explore effective strategies for managing leads starting from the moment a device is implanted.

Tricuspid valve lead management with Dr. Mikhael El-Chami

We take a deep dive into transcatheter tricuspid valve replacement (TTVR) , comparing patients with leads who need TTVR to those without leads who require a device after having had TTVR.

Lead management in Tricuspid Interventions

The increase in tricuspid interventions has sparked many questions about how to manage device leads when treating tricuspid valve regurgitation. Dr. Samir Kapadia, Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. Amar Krishnaswamy, Section Head of Interventional Cardiology at Cleveland Clinic, both experts in structural heart interventions, sit down with Dr. Tom Callahan to discuss tricuspid valve interventions, their approach to lead management, and how they are collaborating with their electrophysiology colleagues.

A Conversation with Dr. Ulrika Birgersdotter-Green

Dr. Tom Callahan sits down with electrophysiologist Dr. Ulrika Birgersdotter-Green to talk about lead management – from extraction to the role of leadless devices.