Key result
Ventricular leadless pacemakers show safe implantation in active infection, potentially protected by turbulent RV flow.
Why the study?
An ideal reimplantation strategy after extraction of infected cardiac implantable electronic devices remains uncertain, especially in pacemaker-dependent patients.
Atrial leadless pacemakers may offer a reimplantation strategy for pacemaker-dependent patients with active CIED infections, building on the known safety profile of ventricular leadless pacemakers in similar settings.
Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections require prompt and complete extraction of infected hardware. An ideal reimplantation strategy remains uncertain, as delayed reimplantation after antibiotic therapy in pacemaker-dependent patients requires temporary transvenous pacing, which in itself carries a risk of infection along with vascular complications and cardiac injury. Ventricular leadless pacemakers (LPs), have been implanted safely in patients with active infections. The fact that ventricular LPs are largely resistant to infection is attributed in part to the high-velocity, turbulent flow of the right ventricle.
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Salamatbad et al. (2026) studied Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections. Leadless pacemaker implantation was evaluated. Ventricular leadless pacemakers have been safely implanted in patients with active infections, potentially due to infection resistance from the high-velocity, turbulent flow of the right ventricle.
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