JAMMU, SEPT 21: In a significant milestone for advanced cardiac care in the region, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu has successfully performed its first-ever leadless pacemaker implantation, providing a lifesaving treatment option to a patient suffering from a severe infection of the pacemaker pocket associated with a previously implanted conventional device.
Unlike conventional pacemakers, which consist of a pulse generator placed beneath the skin and electrical leads passed through veins into the heart, a leadless pacemaker is a miniature, self-contained device implanted directly inside the heart.
In this case, the existing pacemaker pocket had developed a serious infection, making conventional reimplantation particularly challenging due to the risk of recurrent infection. The cardiac team therefore opted for a leadless pacemaker, which was delivered through the femoral vein and positioned directly in the right ventricle.
The minimally invasive approach eliminated the need for a chest incision, creation of a surgical pacemaker pocket and transvenous electrical leads, thereby addressing the specific complications associated with the patient’s previous device.
The procedure was successfully performed by Dr. Zubair Farooq and Dr. Mayank Saini, Assistant Professors in the Department of Cardiology, with support from a team of specialised cardiac nurses and technicians.
The achievement marks an important advancement in the cardiac services available at AIIMS Jammu and strengthens its capability to provide advanced device-based treatment for patients with complex cardiac conditions.
