For nearly a decade, 76-year-old businessman Bipin Poddar from Patna lived with a silent, worsening enemy—an infection caused by a fragment of an old pacemaker lead left inside his chest. After years of intermittent fever, weakness, and multiple failed surgeries, his life was turned around at Manipal Hospital, EM Bypass, thanks to a complex and rare procedure led by Dr. Dilip Kumar, Director, Cath Lab and Senior Interventional Cardiologist.
The trouble began in 2015, when Mr. Poddar had his first pacemaker implanted on the right side of his chest. In 2018, it was moved to the left side—but a portion of the original lead was mistakenly left inside. Over time, this fragment became a breeding ground for infection. Even another surgery in 2021-22 failed to fix the issue, and by last year, Mr. Poddar endured months of high-grade fever that refused to subside.
“Cardiac implantable devices have transformed lives, but when infected—especially with incomplete lead removal—they can be life-threatening,” said Dr. Dilip Kumar. “In Mr. Poddar’s case, the embedded lead had created a chronic infection for almost 10 years. Removing it was both essential and extremely challenging.”
The team at Manipal Hospital adopted a high-precision transvenous lead extraction (TLE) technique, followed by the implantation of a leadless pacemaker—a safer alternative for such high-risk patients. This advanced method, rarely performed in India for pacemaker-dependent cases, ensured complete removal of the infection source without compromising heart function.
After a meticulous operation, the infected lead was extracted in full and the infection brought under control. Mr. Poddar made a smooth recovery and was discharged in stable condition.
“I had almost given up hope after years of suffering,” said an emotional Mr. Poddar. “This surgery has given me a second life. I feel truly reborn.”
Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional COO – East, Manipal Hospitals, called the case “a testament to the cutting-edge cardiac care” available at the hospital, showcasing how modern technology combined with expert hands can rewrite a patient’s fate.
