In a rare and complex medical breakthrough, Manipal Hospital, EM Bypass, successfully treated a 76-year-old businessman from Patna who had endured a recurring pacemaker-related infection for nearly a decade. The case, led by Dr. Dilip Kumar, Director Cath Lab and Senior Interventional Cardiologist, involved the complete removal of an infected pacemaker lead that had been left embedded since 2015.
Patient Bipin Poddar first received a pacemaker in Patna, but incomplete lead removal during subsequent surgeries in 2018 and 2021–22 led to chronic infection and persistent high-grade fever. Dr. Kumar explained that such infections can be life-threatening when not addressed through complete extraction, adding that leadless pacemakers, when paired with transvenous lead extraction, offer safer outcomes in complicated cases.
The case has drawn attention in Patna’s medical circles and even the local business community, where market vendors and traders at Patna’s bustling wholesale hubs noted the significance of advanced healthcare access beyond the city. Many highlighted that while Patna’s hospitals cater to a wide range of ailments, certain highly specialized cardiac procedures still require referral to top-tier metro facilities. After a meticulous surgery, Poddar was discharged in good health, calling the experience “a rebirth.” Manipal Hospital officials hailed the success as a testament to their cutting-edge cardiac care in eastern India.
