PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Erich L. Kiehl
AU  - Daniel J. Cantillon
TI  - Leadless cardiac pacing: What primary care providers and non-EP cardiologists should know
AID  - 10.3949/ccjm.83.s2.04
DP  - 2016 Nov 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - S24--S34
VI  - 83
IP  - 11 suppl 2
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/83/11_suppl_2/S24.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/83/11_suppl_2/S24.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med2016 Nov 01; 83
AB  - Over the last 50 years, the use of transvenous pacemakers has been constrained by long-term complications that affect more than 1 in 10 patients, largely attributable to the endovascular leads and surgical pocket. Leadless cardiac pacing involves a self-contained pacemaker deployed directly into the heart without a lead or incisional access. The procedure has shown promise, eliminating pocket-related complications. Other advantages include postprocedural shoulder mobility and the ability to drive, shower, and bathe. Current devices are limited to single-chamber ventricular pacing. Future advances may allow atrial and dual-chamber pacing and combination with a subcutaneous defibrillator to deliver antitachycardia pacing and provide bradycardia backup.