Mizoram doctors performed the state’s first leadless pacemaker implantation at Aizawl Civil Hospital on Monday, a milestone announced by Health Minister Lalrinpuii on Tuesday. The procedure was carried out by a team of cardiologists led by Dr Loncy V. Lalzarliana and Dr Isak Lallawmkima, with guidance from Dr Uday Shankar Das of Apollo Multispeciality Hospital in Kolkata.
The procedure follows the installation of a cardiac catheterisation laboratory at the civil hospital in 2025. Unlike conventional pacemakers that require a surgical pocket and leads threaded through blood vessels, the leadless device is deployed directly into the heart via a catheter inserted through the femoral vein. This approach eliminates the need for an incision or vascular leads, making it less invasive. While standard pacemakers typically last nine to eleven years, the Abbott AVEIR VR leadless pacemaker is designed to operate for more than eighteen to twenty‑one years.
The operation marks a significant step in enhancing the cardiac‑care capabilities of Aizawl Civil Hospital and represents progress toward advanced heart treatment within Mizoram. The patient, a 67‑year‑old pensioner, received the implant under the Mizo Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS).
According to Dr Loncy, this is the first leadless pacemaker implantation in the state, although conventional pacemaker procedures have been performed on occasion in the past.
