World’s smallest pacemaker implanted in 81-year-old

A leadless pacemaker, which has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is the smallest device of its kind, was implanted in an 81-year-old patient by doctors at Continental Hospitals recently.

Announcing the same Senior Consultant and Chief of Interventional Cardiology, Continental Hospitals Dr Bharat V Purohit, who performed the surgery, said that it is the first hospital in both Telugu States to implant the device.

“The patient was suffering from bradycardia. Pacemakers are the most common way to treat the condition. However, the patient had slow heartbeat (Sick Sinus Syndrome). In view of his history of angioplasty for which he was on a blood thinner (Antiplatelet Agents) a conventional pacemaker would have caused a risk. In addition, he was reluctant for any surgical procedure owing to his age,” informed the doctor about the patient.

“Hence, the option of this leadless pacemaker was discussed and decided. This new pacemaker is implanted through the leg. It attaches directly to the walls of the heart and gives electrical signals for maintaining a normal heart rate. This is MRI compatible and can adjust the heart rate according to the patient’s activity and needs of the body,” he said.

Comparable in size to a large vitamin capsule, the doctor decided to use the leadless pacemaker because unlike traditional pacemakers, the device does not require cardiac wires (leads) or a surgical pocket under the skin to deliver pacing therapy.

“The leadless pacemaker incorporates a retrieval feature to enable retrieval of the device when possible; however, the device is designed to be left in the body. For patients who need more than one heart device, the miniaturised pacemaker enables it to be permanently turned off so it can remain in the body and a new device can be implanted without risk of electrical interaction,” said the doctor about its advantages.