The cardiology department at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) successfully treated brady arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder) in a 74-year-old patient from Anchal by implanting the Micra AV, said to be the smallest leadless pacemaker the size of a large capsule, directly into the heart through a minimally invasive procedure.
Leadless pacemakers have become a cornerstone in the corrective treatment of heart rhythm disorders and atrioventricular (AV) blocks, and the state medical school here is the first public sector hospital to successfully implant them.
Pacemakers provide pacing support to maintain heart rate and rhythm, reducing the risk of complications such as heart failure due to an irregular heartbeat. Traditional pacemakers are about the size of a matchbox and have electrical leads that are usually implanted in patients by creating a surgical pocket under the skin.
On the other hand, leadless pacemakers are implanted directly into the right ventricle of the heart through the femoral vein in the leg.
Leadless pacemakers thus eliminate the risks of lead-related infection, dislocation, and the need to create surgical pockets under the skin.
The minimally invasive procedure was performed under the guidance of a team led by Cardiology Department Head Mathew Iyp and senior professors Sibu Mathew, B. Krishnakumar and pacemaker implantation expert Arun Gopi.
Published – 5 Nov 2025 22:06 IST
