Leadless cardiac pacemakers

Summary

Abnormal heart rhythms can cause a slow heart rate, also known as bradyarrhythmia. If bradyarrhythmia is due to electrical changes in the heart, standard management is the implantation of a pacemaker. Conventional transvenous pacemakers consist of a subcutaneous pulse generator, wires implanted into a vein leading to the heart and electrodes attached to the heart. Leadless cardiac pacemakers have been developed that can be implanted directly in the heart via the femoral vein.

Health Technology Wales researchers searched for evidence on the clinical, cost effectiveness and safety of leadless pacemaker implantation for bradyarrhythmias compared with conventional pacemakers.