Kolkata doctors give new lease of life to man with complete heart block and life-threatening pacemaker infection

A 70yearold man suffering from complete heart block and a lifethreatening pacemaker infection has successfully received a new lease of life by doctors at a hospital in Kolkata through an advanced dualchamber leadless pacemaker implantationThe complex procedure was performed by Prof Dr Rabindra Nath Chakraborty Senior Consultant ndash Interventional Cardiology and Head ndash Department of Cardiovascular Services at Manipal Hospitals KolkataThe man a resident of Bihar was initially diagnosed with complete heart block after experiencing repeated episodes of unconsciousness and a dangerously slow heart rate Considering the severity of his heart condition doctors implanted a dualchamber MRIcompatible pacemaker Following the procedure it was discovered that the patient was completely dependent on the pacemaker as his hearts natural electrical conduction system was no longer functioningHowever within two weeks of the implantation the patient developed a severe infection at the pacemaker pocket site below his left collarbone Despite prolonged antibiotic treatment wound care and medical management across multiple hospitals in Bihar Delhi and Patna the infection failed to resolve Over time the pacemaker device became exposed through the skin creating a critical clinical challenge as the patient could not function without pacing supportAfter evaluation at the hospital Dr Chakraborty and his team decided on a specialised treatment approach Since removal of the infected pacemaker without an immediate alternative could put the patient at significant risk the team first implanted a dualchamber leadless pacemaker system and subsequently removed the infected conventional pacemaker Leadless pacemakers are advanced capsulesized devices that are implanted directly inside the heart through a minimally invasive procedure Unlike traditional pacemakers they do not require leads or a surgical pocket under the skin significantly reducing the chances of infection and other complicationsDuring the procedure two leadless pacemaker capsules were successfully implanted one in the right atrium and another in the right ventricle to restore complete pacing support Once the new system was confirmed to be functioning optimally the infected pacemaker generator and leads were carefully removed from the chest area The infected tissue was thoroughly cleaned and treated before the wound was closedThe procedure was performed under local anaesthesia enabling the patient to remain conscious and communicate throughout the intervention Following the successful procedure the patient was shifted to the ICU for observation and demonstrated a smooth recovery He was comfortable ambulatory and discharged in a stable conditionDr Chakraborty talking about the case said ldquoThis was an extremely challenging case as the patient was completely dependent on his pacemaker while the existing device had developed a severe infection A conventional approach of replacing the device on the opposite side also carried the risk of recurrence The leadless pacemaker provided the safest and most effective solution eliminating the need for leads and a skin pocket and helped us successfully restore his heart rhythm with minimal infection riskrdquoThe patient will continue followup care to monitor wound hemUaling The leadless pacemaker implantation site accessed through a small puncture in the groin requires no stitches and minimal postprocedure careThe successful intervention highlights the growing role of advanced cardiac technologies in managing complex heart rhythm disorders and offering effective treatment options for highrisk patients with pacemakerrelated complications