The Hemodynamics unit of the Doctor José Molina Orosa University Hospital, a center attached to the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, has successfully implanted the first leadless pacemaker in a 33-year-old patient with a cardiac pathology that caused heart stoppages with occasional loss of consciousness that put her life at risk.
The intervention was performed by Dr. Carlos Vasquez and his team on May 23. Currently, the patient is in good condition and has overcome the syncopes associated with the paroxysmal atrioventricular block she suffered from.
The procedure consisted of the implantation of a cylindrical device, just 38 millimeters long, 6.7 millimeters wide and weighing ten grams, which is inserted into the heart through the femoral vein using a steerable catheter and fixed directly inside the right ventricle. It is a much smaller pacemaker than the conventional one and its battery has a longevity of up to fifteen years.
Minimally invasive intervention
This is a minimally invasive intervention that offers the patient great improvement and a quick recovery. In addition, this type of cardiac stimulation device, as it does not have a cable because the battery is incorporated inside, has a lower risk of complications such as infections or hematomas.
Dr. Vasquez emphasizes precisely that leadless pacemakers have revolutionized cardiac stimulation for years by eliminating transvenous electrodes and subcutaneous generators, and emphasizes that this technology has made it possible to solve the patient's pathology, who is progressing favorably since the intervention.
This type of device is indicated for patients with advanced atrioventricular block who require single ventricular stimulation, as well as for people with a high risk of infections or a history of recurrent infections in conventional devices. They are also the most suitable for patients with limited vascular access, a history of complications with transvenous electrodes, or in selected cases of atrial fibrillation with bradycardia.
The manager of Health Services of Lanzarote, Pablo Eguia, expresses his satisfaction for the continuous effort of the team of professionals of the Hemodynamics unit of Molina Orosa, which in less than two years since its launch has incorporated technology and cutting-edge treatments to care for patients with heart diseases in Lanzarote.
