# Successful Leadless Pacemaker Implantation Despite SVC Obstruction

**Authors:** Naveen Vuppuluri, Tarek Makki, Firas Zahwe

PMC · DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.103364 · 2025-04-23

## TL;DR

A leadless pacemaker was successfully implanted in a patient with a blocked vein, offering a safer alternative to traditional devices.

## Contribution

Demonstrates successful leadless pacemaker use in a patient with SVC obstruction and ESRD.

## Key findings

- Leadless pacemaker successfully implanted via femoral approach in a patient with SVC obstruction.
- Leadless pacemakers offer lower infection risk and retrievability compared to traditional devices.
- Provides an alternative for patients with complex venous access issues.

## Abstract

A 69-year-old male underwent implantation of a leadless pacemaker after a failed attempt to upgrade his single lead ICD in the setting of SVC obstruction.

A 69-year-old male with ischemic cardiomyopathy status post single chamber ICD presented with fatigue. Device interrogation revealed increased RV pacing. Device upgrade was attempted; however, he was found to have a SVC obstruction. A leadless pacemaker was subsequently placed in the right atrium via femoral approach.

Permanent leadless pacemakers provide a safe, less invasive alternative for patients with conditions that would have previously required complex interventions. Our case demonstrates the use of a leadless pacemaker in a patient with SVC obstruction and ESRD, offering lower infection risk and benefit of retrievability.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** ESRD (MONDO:0004375)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** fatigue (MESH:D005221), SVC Obstruction (MESH:D013479), ESRD (MESH:D007676), infection (MESH:D007239), ischemic cardiomyopathy (MESH:D009202)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12243024/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12243024