Mysuru: A team of doctors from Apollo Hospital in Mysuru implanted world’s miniature pacemaker in a 68-year-old heart patient with Bradycardia. The rare implant using leadless pacemaker approved by United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) is considered first of its kind in the state.
This implant carried out by Dr. Arun Srinivas, Head of Cardiology Department & Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru has helped the 68-year-old to keep with the time, despite Bradycardia (Bradycardia in an adult whose heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute (BPM), although symptoms usually manifest only for heart rates less than 50). The simple procedure has helped restore normal rhythm of the patient’s heart and relieve symptoms by sending electrical impulses to the heart to increase the beat rate.
Briefing the media about the implant procedure, here on April 25, Dr. Arun Srinivas said, “The second implanted regular pacemaker with leads (cardiac wires) in 68-year old patient had to be removed. Since his veins were blocked, the only lifesaving option was to implant new leadless pacemaker through the leg. The new device linked to the periphery of the heart provides electrical signals for maintaining a normal heart rate” and went on to add, “This new pacemaker is entirely MRI compatible and can adjust the heart rate according to the patient’s activity and needs of the body.”
“Miniature device equivalent to a large vitamin capsule does not require cardiac wires or a surgical pocket under the skin to deliver pacing therapy and hence is a boon for patients who have a pacemaker/lead infection or blocked veins in the chest. It greatly reduces risks associated with the routine pacemaker including lead infection, pacemaker pocket infection and venous obstruction by almost 50 percent, explained Dr. Arun Srinivas.
“The Leadless Pacemaker implant needs professional expertise which incorporates a retrieval feature to enable retrieval of the device. However, the device is designed to be left in the body. For patients who need more than one heart device, the miniaturised leadless pacemaker is designed with a unique feature that enables it to be permanently turned off so that it can remain in the body and a new device can be implanted without risk of electrical interaction”, stated Dr. Arun Srinivas explaining about the benefits of miniature USFDA devise.
The hospital offers payment facilities through installments through a scheme titled “Healthy Heart for All”, mainly to help patients unable to pay at once. The regular pacemaker durability is 8 to 10 years while that of the new pacemaker is 12 to 14 years, Dr. Srinivas said.
Doctors who assisted Dr. Arun Srinivas in the implant procedure and other senior doctors along with senior administration and management professionals from Apollo hospital were present at the media briefing.
