For the first time in Coastal Karnataka, an AI-driven wireless pacemaker was successfully implanted at Indiana Hospital, Mangaluru. The innovative technology was tested on an 83-year-old patient, a resident of Mangaluru, after other treatment options were deemed ineffective.

The patient was admitted with cardiac arrest, and their heart rate was nearly twice the normal rate. The condition was diagnosed as Tachy-Brady Syndrome, a rare heart disorder in which the heartbeat fluctuates between fast and slow rhythms. After a thorough evaluation by Indiana’s cardiology team, it was decided to implant a pacemaker followed by radiofrequency ablation. However, considering the patient’s age, respiratory complications, and high risk of infection, the team suggested trying the advanced AI-driven wireless pacemaker.

Unlike traditional pacemakers, which are implanted in the chest and connected to the heart wall using wires, this new technology involves inserting the pacemaker device through a vein and directly attaching it to the heart wall. This eliminates the need for incisions, significantly reducing the risk of infection. The lifespan of such pacemakers typically ranges from 5 to 15 years.

The procedure was led by Dr. Yusuf Kumble (Chief Interventional Cardiologist), Dr. Manish Rai (Consultant Cardiac Electrophysiologist), Dr. Gary Valerian Pais (Interventional Cardiologist), Dr. Sukhan Shetty (Consultant Cardiac Anesthetist) & Dr. Praveen Sreekumar (Sr. Consultant Interventional Cardiologist & Electrophysiologist). Dr. Yusuf Kumble expressed pride and satisfaction in the hospital’s ability to provide cutting-edge cardiac treatments, including AI-based technologies. He also emphasized that such advancements would benefit not only patients in Karnataka but also those from northern Kerala.