Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Frequency and Extent of Leadless Pacemaker Encapsulation
- retrospective study
- single-centre
- contrast-enhanced thoracic computed tomography (CT)
- independent review by cardiothoracic radiologists using a standardized protocol
Authors' conclusion
CT imaging can visualize in vivo LP encapsulation that is common, varies in severity, and can involve multiple anatomical structures. Therefore, CT imaging may identify potential retrieval challenges, informing risk stratification and procedural strategy.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with leadless pacemakers implanted at the authors' center who underwent postimplantation contrast-enhanced thoracic CT imagingpatients with images in which encapsulation could be assessed, of 742 patients with leadless pacemakers (LPs) implanted, 69 underwent postimplantation CT
- Participants
- 59 patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Some degree of LP encapsulation
50 (85%)
Moderate or extensive encapsulation
18 (31%)
Complete encasement
2 (3%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Origin of encapsulation tissue
- Myocardium
- 36%
- Trabeculations/subvalvular apparatus
- 83%
- and/or
Tissue involving the LP retrieval feature
- Patients with tissue involving the retrieval feature
- 16 (27%)
Progressive encapsulation on serial imaging
- Of 13 patients with serial imaging, demonstrated progressive encapsulation
- 3
Transmural tine penetration
- Transmural tine penetration
- 7 (12%)
Right ventricular free wall implantation
- Right ventricular free wall implantation
- 18 (26%)
Potential anatomic retrieval barriers on CT
- Potential anatomic retrieval barriers
- 36 (61%)
Original publication
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it