An excimer laser sheath has recently been used to cardiac implantable electronic devices(CIEDs)leads. We report the case of lead extraction using this system in a 72-year-old man who had developed a pacemaker infection with pain and swelling in the pacemaker pocket. He had undergone pacemaker implantation(DDD mode)10 years previously, and 16 months had passed since generator replacement. The right atrium(RA)lead had been inserted via the right subclavian puncture and the right ventricular(RV)lead via cut-down of the right cephalic vein. The RA lead was extracted without complication. During extraction of the RV lead, we easily excised the adhesions and smoothly advanced the sheath over the lead. As the procedure continued, however, the tip of the sheath reached the superior vena cava, where we met resistance and could hardly advance the sheath, eventually no longer being able to push it forward over the RA. The tip of the lead had already detached from the RV, and the lead itself was free from any adhesions. Although it was impossible to pull the lead backward into the sheath, we finally removed the entire system. Tissue from the compressed vein was evident around part of the lead and apparently had caused locking of the lead and sheath. This unfavorable situation deserves careful attention when attempting to extract of a lead using an excimer laser sheath via the cephalic vein.