Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Percutaneous retrieval of embolized atrial leadless pacemakers: Early multicenter experience
- retrospective multicenter case series
- 6 United States electrophysiology centers
Authors' conclusion
Atrial leadless pacemaker embolization, although uncommon, appears to occur early after implantation and is associated with suboptimal COI at implant. Despite unfavorable device orientation, percutaneous retrieval using standard electrophysiology tools is highly effective. Careful attention to fixation signals and adjunctive imaging may reduce embolization risk.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with AVEIR AR atrial leadless pacemaker embolization events, between October 2024 and August 2025
- Participants
- Six embolization cases
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
mean age
71 ± 10 years
women
50%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Implant site and current of injury (COI) · at implantation
- All devices implanted at the base of the right atrial appendage with reported minimal or absent COI at implantation
Timing of embolization
- intraprocedurally
- 1 case
- early postprocedural period
- 5 cases
Location of embolization
- pulmonary arteries
- 5 of 6 cases
Device orientation
- All devices embolized with the fixation helix oriented proximally
Percutaneous retrieval
- Successful in all cases using femoral access, deflectable sheaths, and snare-based techniques, without major complications
Reimplantation
- Reimplantation yielded a robust COI and favorable chronic electrical parameters
- 2 of 6 cases
Original publication
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it