4-Year-Old Boy with Heart Failure Saved by Leadless Pacemaker Implantation at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital announced on the 22nd that a 4-year-old boy, who had long relied on a pacemaker due to complex congenital heart disease, suffered from heart failure due to two lead fractures. The hospital successfully implanted a leadless pacemaker, securing a chance for treatment. Kaohsiung Chang Gung held a press conference today to share the case as a significant breakthrough in pediatric cardiac care in southern Taiwan. The boy, surnamed Deng, was diagnosed with 'double outlet right ventricle' at birth and underwent surgical correction at one month old, but developed complete atrioventricular block post-surgery, requiring an epicardial pacemaker to stabilize his heart rate. Kaohsiung Chang Gung stated that although Deng recovered well, the leads fractured due to increased activity during growth, and a second failure recently caused the pacemaker to malfunction, leading to a slow heart rate and heart failure, requiring intensive care. The attending physician, pediatric cardiologist Dr. Chien Shao-ju, noted that the family was very vigilant, noticing eyelid edema and measuring the pulse, which was lower than the set value. This case demonstrated the integrated care capabilities of a team including pediatric cardiology, adult cardiology, pediatric intensive care, cardiac surgery, anesthesiology, and the cardiac catheterization lab. The medical team pointed out that implanting traditional pacemakers in young children is limited by vessel and heart size, and leads are prone to fracture during growth. Currently, epicardial pacemakers are the standard for infants, but they carry risks of infection and lead damage. After multiple discussions with the family, the team decided to attempt a minimally invasive leadless pacemaker implantation. With the collaboration of adult cardiologist Dr. Chen Huang-chung, pediatric cardiologist Dr. Hsu Ying-lun, and cardiac surgeon Dr. Huang Kuan-ju, they overcame the limitations of the child's vascular conditions and successfully implanted the leadless pacemaker via the jugular vein. Dr. Hsu Ying-lun stated that compared to traditional pacemakers, leadless pacemakers are implanted via catheter, resulting in smaller wounds, faster recovery, and reduced risks of infection and lead-related complications, providing a new treatment option for pediatric patients. Dr. Lin Tsu-kung, Vice Superintendent of Kaohsiung Chang Gung, stated that pediatric cardiac care is a race against time, and this successful case demonstrates the integrated strength of a multidisciplinary team in facing high-difficulty critical cases. They will continue to integrate resources to ensure that critically ill children in the south can receive international-standard medical care.