Unlike conventional pacemakers, a leadless pacemaker is placed directly in the heart without the need for a surgical pocket and pacing leads. The device is much smaller than a conventional pacemaker and is comprised of a pulse generator that includes a battery and a steroid-eluting electrode that sends pulses to the heart when it recognizes a problem with the heart’s rhythm.
Leadless pacemaker technology is made up of computer chips and a small, but long-lived battery in a sealed case that resembles an AAA battery. The device is implanted through a vein that passes fairly close to the outer surface of the upper thighs. Because the implant procedure does not require surgery like a traditional procedure, it is considered a less-invasive approach for patients who need pacemaker technology.
Every procedure has complications associated with it. The most common possible problems after a leadless pacemaker implant involve the incision site, such as swelling and bleeding. These are not typically life-threatening but may lead to a longer hospital stay or slower recovery.
More serious but rare complications include the device moving out of place (dislodgement) or internal bleeding, such as pericardial effusion or tamponade.
-Senior Consultant Cardiologist & Electrophysiologist
-Chief, Cardiac Pacing and Arrhythmia Services
-Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology
-Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai.