NEIGRIHMS performs first successful leadless pacemaker implant

SHILLONG: The department of cardiology at NEIGRIHMS has added another feather to its cap after successfully implanting a leadless pacemaker in the heart of a 75-year-old patient.
A statement from the Department of Cardiology informed that the leadless pacemaker was successfully implanted in the heart of a patient on November 20.
The patient, a resident of Shillong, was suffering from a blockage of the electrical system in his heart which caused him to have frequent episodes of disabling dizziness.
A team comprising of Animesh Mishra and Amit Malviya performed the complex procedure with the assistance of senior residents and technicians.
The statement said that Animesh Mishra, HOD Cardiology was instrumental in bringing this technology to NEIGRIHMS.
Misra also emphasized on the need for newer and better technology for the overall benefit of the patients.
The leadless pacemaker, which was introduced in 2014, is a miniaturised heart device slightly bigger than a multivitamin capsule and was implanted directly into the patient’s heart using a catheter inserted through a small hole in the patient’s leg.
A leadless pacemaker also allows for direct insertion into a human heart without any visible lumps, scars or insulated wires as seen in conventional pacemakers.
The recovery time for a patient after the procedure is significantly reduced as well as the implantation itself takes around 30 minutes.
With the success of the operation, the department of Cardiology at NEIGRIHMS is now one of the few selected centres in the country with the expertise to perform such a procedure.