Beijing Tiantan Hospital: China's First Leadless Pacemaker Implantation for Adult Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy
Milestone: Beijing Tiantan Hospital Completes China's First Leadless Pacemaker Implantation for Adult Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Filling a Global Gap
🧬 Breaking Bottlenecks in Rare Cardiovascular Diseases
The Heart and Vascular Center at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, recently successfully implanted a leadless pacemaker in a 22-year-old patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and 3rd-degree atrioventricular block. This achievement fills an international void in leadless pacemaker implantation for adults with this rare condition.
⚖️ Overcoming Extreme Clinical Barriers
Upon admission, the patient's heart rate was only 35-40 bpm, and he was severely emaciated (BMI 13.2), making him completely unsuitable for a traditional pacemaker. Led by Director Yanchao Wu, our multidisciplinary team (MDT) conducted a rigorous evaluation and opted for the cutting-edge leadless pacemaker technology.
🛠️ Breathtaking Intraoperative Procedures
The surgery was highly challenging:
▸ Emergency Resuscitation: The patient suffered sudden cardiac arrest upon entering the OR. The team quickly resuscitated him and implanted a temporary pacemaker to stabilize vital signs.
▸ Precise Anchoring: Due to severe myocardial damage caused by the mitochondrial disease, finding a suitable pacing site was exceptionally difficult. After 3 hours of meticulous micro-operations and two repositionings, the device was successfully anchored.
▸ Imaging Evidence: As shown in the attached images, the X-ray (red arrow) clearly displays the precise implantation site of the leadless pacemaker; meanwhile, the pre- and post-operative ECG comparisons visually record the medical miracle of recovering from a highly dangerous AV block to a stable paced rhythm.
🌍 The Tiantan Experience
The patient's vital signs are now stable, and his symptoms have significantly improved. This surgery not only saved a young life but also contributed valuable "Tiantan Experience" to the treatment of rare diseases complicated by severe arrhythmias.![]()
