Kauvery Hospital makes history as the first hospital in India to perform next-generation ‘Leadless Pacemaker Implantation’ along with ‘Non-Surgical Valve Replacement’.

Man aged 80 was successfully treated for low heart rate and for valve stenosis

Chennai, December 23rd  2024:

Kauvery Hospital in Chennai has achieved a significant medical milestone by successfully performing India’s first combination procedure involving the latest generation Leadless Pacemaker and non-surgical valve replacement which is the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

This also happens to be the first-of- its- kind latest generation of Leadless pacemaker in Tamilnadu. This ground-breaking procedure was conducted on an 80-year-old patient with multiple health issues, including diabetes, lung problems, chronic kidney disease, and a history of bypass surgery for heart disease. These nonsurgical percutaneous procedures addressed both the age related slow heart rate and aortic valve stenosis problems of the patient.

The expert team at Kauvery Hospital executed the Leadless Pacemaker along with TAVR. Remarkably, this pioneering procedure was performed through only two small keyhole incisions in the right leg, ensuring a minimally invasive approach that significantly reduces recovery time and discomfort for the patient.

This new generation Leadless pacemaker is a small, self-contained device implanted directly into the heart to help regulate its rhythm. Unlike traditional pacemakers that require wires (leads) and a chest incision, this pacemaker is inserted through a minimally invasive procedure from the groin, eliminating the need for leads inside the heart or any scar in the chest wall.

Dr. Deep Chandh Raja S, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at Kauvery Hospital successfully performed the leadless pacemaker implantation, while Dr. Rajaram Anantharaman, Clinical Lead – Advanced Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy and Transplantation, performed the TAVR procedure for valve stenosis along with a dedicated team of cardiac anaesthetists. Their collaboration exemplifies the hospital’s commitment to providing high-quality comprehensive cardiac care through the latest techniques and expertise.

Senior Consultant Cardiologist and Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology Dr Deep Chandh Raja S, commented, “The combination of Leadless pacemaker with a TAVR is a promising alternative to existing surgical options, for age-related degeneration of heart’s electric wires and valve. Leadless pacemakers will soon be the routine choice of pacemakers, as it obviates any chances of pacemaker infection and any indwelling lead related complications. This latest generation of leadless pacemaker has special capabilities of a long battery life, and ability to be removed anytime.”

Speaking about the TAVR and Leadless pacemaker combination procedure Dr. Rajaram Anantharaman, Clinical Lead – Advanced Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy and Transplantation, Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet said, “Since its inception, TAVR has rapidly expanded as an alternative to traditional surgical aortic valve replacement. By performing the TAVR procedure to replace the damaged valve and implanting the leadless pacemaker to regulate heart rhythm, we addressed both conditions in a single minimally invasive session. This approach not only reduced procedural risks but also ensured a quicker recovery, enabling the patient to return to normal activities much sooner than with traditional method.”

Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kauvery Hospital, added, “This milestone procedure, combining the new generation leadless pacemaker with TAVR, showcases our commitment to bringing the most advanced and patient-centric cardiac care to India. By addressing multiple cardiac conditions in a single minimally invasive intervention, we have significantly improved the patient’s recovery journey and overall quality of life. At Kauvery Hospital, we continue to embrace innovation to redefine healthcare excellence.”

Kauvery Hospital