Study design
This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent TLE as part of
the treatment for CIED infection (including generator and/or lead
extrusion, infective endocarditis [IE], persistent bacteremia, and
pocket infection). Consecutive patients aged >18 years who
had undergone TLE with complete capsulectomy (i.e., total removal of the
anterior and posterior fibrous capsule) or CHG scrubbing without
capsulectomy between July 2013 and September 2020 were included in the
analysis. Patients who had partial capsulectomy were excluded. All
patients signed a written informed consent authorizing the procedure.