Leadless Versus Single Chamber Pacemakers: An Analysis From the National Readmissions Database of Adverse Outcomes.

Summary: Imagine you need a pacemaker to help your heart beat properly. Doctors can use a traditional one with a wire (called a lead) or a newer, tiny one without a wire (leadless). The leadless ones were originally thought to be a safer choice. However, a huge study looking at thousands of hospital records found a surprise. People who got the leadless pacemakers actually had a higher chance of dying or having a hole accidentally poked in their heart during the procedure. The risk was especially high for patients who were on dialysis or had high blood pressure in their lungs. While leadless pacemakers are an amazing new technology, this study shows they might not be the safest choice for every single patient.