Case Report: Staged epicardial pacemaker implantation in a 740 g ELBW infant with 25 + 2 weeks of GA with congenital complete heart block

BackgroundCongenital complete atrioventricular (AV) block is a rare but potentially fatal condition in neonates, especially those with extremely low birth weight (ELBW). Management in this population is challenging due to technical limitations and high comorbidity risk.Case presentationWe report the...

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Main Authors: Tamari Tvildiani, Teresa Riedl-Seifert, Markus Waitz, Thomas Dimpfl, Thomas Paul, Andreas Jenke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1626650/full
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author Tamari Tvildiani
Teresa Riedl-Seifert
Markus Waitz
Thomas Dimpfl
Thomas Paul
Andreas Jenke
Andreas Jenke
author_facet Tamari Tvildiani
Teresa Riedl-Seifert
Markus Waitz
Thomas Dimpfl
Thomas Paul
Andreas Jenke
Andreas Jenke
author_sort Tamari Tvildiani
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundCongenital complete atrioventricular (AV) block is a rare but potentially fatal condition in neonates, especially those with extremely low birth weight (ELBW). Management in this population is challenging due to technical limitations and high comorbidity risk.Case presentationWe report the case of a female infant born at 25 + 2 weeks' gestation, weighing 740 g, with immune-mediated congenital complete AV block. Temporary epicardial pacing was initiated on day one due to persistent bradycardia and hemodynamic compromise. A dual-electrode strategy with alternating pacing sites maintained low thresholds for 90 days. A permanent pacemaker was implanted at 2,890 g. Despite complications including hydrops fetalis, intraventricular hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, and intestinal perforation, the patient was discharged in good condition.ConclusionThis case demonstrates the feasibility of staged pacemaker implantation in ELBW infants and supports individualized pacing strategies to optimize outcomes in this vulnerable population.
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series Frontiers in Pediatrics
spelling doaj-art-1cc8b4a98ee74ca7abf00d3b3387449a2025-08-20T02:40:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602025-07-011310.3389/fped.2025.16266501626650Case Report: Staged epicardial pacemaker implantation in a 740 g ELBW infant with 25 + 2 weeks of GA with congenital complete heart blockTamari Tvildiani0Teresa Riedl-Seifert1Markus Waitz2Thomas Dimpfl3Thomas Paul4Andreas Jenke5Andreas Jenke6Department of Cardiac Surgery, Hospital Kassel, Kassel, GermanyDepartment of Neonatology and Paediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital Kassel, Kassel, GermanyDepartment of Neonatology and Paediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital Kassel, Kassel, GermanyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital Kassel, Kassel, GermanyDepartment of Neonatology and Paediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital Kassel, Kassel, GermanyDepartment of Neonatology and Paediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital Kassel, Kassel, GermanyDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, GermanyBackgroundCongenital complete atrioventricular (AV) block is a rare but potentially fatal condition in neonates, especially those with extremely low birth weight (ELBW). Management in this population is challenging due to technical limitations and high comorbidity risk.Case presentationWe report the case of a female infant born at 25 + 2 weeks' gestation, weighing 740 g, with immune-mediated congenital complete AV block. Temporary epicardial pacing was initiated on day one due to persistent bradycardia and hemodynamic compromise. A dual-electrode strategy with alternating pacing sites maintained low thresholds for 90 days. A permanent pacemaker was implanted at 2,890 g. Despite complications including hydrops fetalis, intraventricular hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, and intestinal perforation, the patient was discharged in good condition.ConclusionThis case demonstrates the feasibility of staged pacemaker implantation in ELBW infants and supports individualized pacing strategies to optimize outcomes in this vulnerable population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1626650/fullheart blockpacemakerpremature infantautoimmune etiologyextremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant
spellingShingle Tamari Tvildiani
Teresa Riedl-Seifert
Markus Waitz
Thomas Dimpfl
Thomas Paul
Andreas Jenke
Andreas Jenke
Case Report: Staged epicardial pacemaker implantation in a 740 g ELBW infant with 25 + 2 weeks of GA with congenital complete heart block
Frontiers in Pediatrics
heart block
pacemaker
premature infant
autoimmune etiology
extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant
title Case Report: Staged epicardial pacemaker implantation in a 740 g ELBW infant with 25 + 2 weeks of GA with congenital complete heart block
title_full Case Report: Staged epicardial pacemaker implantation in a 740 g ELBW infant with 25 + 2 weeks of GA with congenital complete heart block
title_fullStr Case Report: Staged epicardial pacemaker implantation in a 740 g ELBW infant with 25 + 2 weeks of GA with congenital complete heart block
title_full_unstemmed Case Report: Staged epicardial pacemaker implantation in a 740 g ELBW infant with 25 + 2 weeks of GA with congenital complete heart block
title_short Case Report: Staged epicardial pacemaker implantation in a 740 g ELBW infant with 25 + 2 weeks of GA with congenital complete heart block
title_sort case report staged epicardial pacemaker implantation in a 740 g elbw infant with 25 2 weeks of ga with congenital complete heart block
topic heart block
pacemaker
premature infant
autoimmune etiology
extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2025.1626650/full
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