88-yr-old gets 2nd pacemaker implant over existing one

88-yr-old gets 2nd pacemaker implant over existing one

 TIMES NEWS NETWORK 02.01.025

New Delhi : Doctors at Paras Hospital successfully implanted a second miniature leadless pacemaker, similar in size to a vitamin capsule, into the heart of an 88-year-old patient. The patient already had a pacemaker that malfunctioned due to battery issues. Doctors said the medical intervention became necessary when the patient suffered from severe dizziness and blackouts, caused by the failing battery of the first leadless pacemaker. 

Medical assessment of the patient identified a critically low heart rate of 30 beats per minute, necessitating immediate admission. The initial treatment involved installing a temporary pacing catheter with a specialised balloon wire to prevent heart perforation. The medical team then conducted the intricate procedure of placing the second pacemaker above the existing one, ensuring autonomous operation of both devices. “This is an index case and has never been done in the country before,” claimed Dr Amit Bhushan Sharma, director and unit head of cardiology-interventional, Paras Health. “This pacemaker is the world’s smallest pacemaker, about the size of a vitamin capsule, and is leadless.” “When the patient came in with battery depletion and loss of consciousness, we had to act swiftly. We successfully implanted the second capsule-sized pacemaker on top of the first one without stopping his blood thinners. 

This innovative approach minimised the risk of heart perforation and ensured both pacemakers functioned independently,” he added. In 2017, Paras Hospital installed the patient’s first capsule-sized pacemaker. The two-hour procedure required careful supervision using specialised imaging and echo guidance for precise pacemaker positioning. “We used a basic type of catheter with a balloon to avoid heart perforation. The second pacemaker was placed above the first to reduce the risk of complications. Special imaging ensured that both pacemakers were correctly positioned and did not interact with each other,” Dr

Sharma said. Doctors said the patient’s medical history included angioplasty in 2014, and he maintained good health with the first leadless pacemaker until the recent battery issues. His health declined due to irregular checkups and followups. After the successful placement of the second leadless pacemaker, he remained under observation for 48 hours before discharge.