Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 31: The Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag has made history by performing 50 cases of LBB-A pacing under C-arm guidance, authorities informed today.
According to details, the Cardiology team at GMC Anantnag, comprising Dr. Syed Maqbool, Dr. Shamim Iqbal, and Dr. Showkat Hussain Shah, achieved this milestone within four months without EP backup.
“The journey began in September 2024 when the team decided to replace conventional pacemaker implantation with LBB-A pacing. Despite numerous constraints and hurdles, the effort continues unabated,” GMC Anantnag stated.
Officials explained that in conventional pacemaker implantation, the pacing lead is placed at the RV apex or septum, where it paces the RV muscle.
This, they said, can lead to pacemaker-induced cardiomyopathy in 10-20% of individuals within 3-4 years post-PPM insertion.
“This condition can result in heart failure, recurrent hospital admissions, and even death,” doctors noted, adding that LBB-A pacing is a novel technology where the pacemaker lead paces the heart’s normal conduction system rather than the RV muscle.
By targeting the conduction system, LBB-A pacing eliminates the risk of heart failure associated with conventional RV pacing, they said.
“LBB-A pacing was introduced in 2017 and is now widely practiced globally, including at many institutions across India and Jammu and Kashmir,” the officials added. It was further stated that most cardiologists worldwide perform this procedure in a cath lab with EP guidance. “However, at a few centers globally, it is done without EP backup.”
Officials said that GMC Anantnag has distinguished itself as the only institution performing the procedure under a C-arm, which presents unique challenges.
Notably, GMC Anantnag has also completed the highest number of LBB-A pacing procedures in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to date.
The institution completed 50 cases in just four months.
These, as per officials, included not only patients with complete heart block or sick sinus syndrome but also a significant number of cases involving DCM/LBBB and a few with HCM.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
