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The team is delighted about the successful operation and an important step in cardiac medicine (from left): Taisha-Celine Krause (assistant cardiac catheter laboratory), Dr. Gerhard Göbel, specialist in cardiac surgery, behind him Dr. David Saamann, assistant cardiologist, in the middle Dr. Andreas Hain, head of electrophysiology and telemedicine, to the right private lecturer Heiko Burger (rhythm surgery) and Monique Lutz (assistant cardiac catheter laboratory). © pv
At the Kerckhoff Clinic in Bad Nauheim, a patient had an electrodeless dual-chamber pacemaker system implanted. A first in Germany – and a great opportunity.
A significant medical advance has recently taken place in the heart center of the Kerckhoff Clinic in Bad Nauheim: For the first time in Germany, a patient with a severe cardiac arrhythmia was successfully implanted with a leadless two-chamber pacemaker. According to the clinic, this innovation could significantly improve the treatment options for patients with complex cardiac arrhythmias.
The heart rate of a healthy adult is usually around 60 to 80 beats per minute. However, if the heart deviates from this regular rhythm over a long period of time, symptoms may occur that indicate a cardiac arrhythmia. The heart rate may be slow (bradycardia), fast (tachycardia) or irregular (eg atrial fibrillation).
The new dual-chamber pacemaker with active screw fixation, which is based on the proven technology of the leadless single-chamber pacemaker that has been in use for some time, goes one step further: It can not only stimulate the right main chamber of the heart (ventricle), but can also detect signals in the atrium and synchronize them with the chamber. This is achieved by implanting a second, also leadless pacemaker in the atrium.
The pacemakers communicate
Both pacemakers communicate with each other continuously to ensure a regular and stable heartbeat. This ensures that the chamber is stimulated immediately after the blood leaves the atrium, so that the blood is pumped synchronously into the body’s circulation. “With this new technology, we will be able to offer patients with more serious cardiac arrhythmias such as sinus node disease or higher-grade AV blocks a probe-free and minimally invasive therapy in the future,” explains Dr. Andreas Hain, senior physician in electrophysiology and telemedicine at the Kerckhoff Clinic. “This innovation represents a significant advance in cardiac medicine and opens up new opportunities for us to improve the quality of life of our patients,” reports Prof. Samuel T. Sossalla, Director of the Cardiology Department at the Kerckhoff Clinic.
The conventional implantation of a pacemaker requires the use of electrodes that are guided through the blood vessels to the heart and anchored there. This method has long been established, but also carries risks, such as the electrodes slipping or becoming damaged.
Minimally invasive implantation
The new electrodeless dual-chamber pacemaker completely avoids this problem. Thanks to its small size and the innovative technology that enables beat-to-beat communication between the two pacemakers, the system is anchored directly in the heart. This not only minimizes potential complications, but also increases comfort for the patient.
The implantation is carried out using a minimally invasive procedure via the femoral vein and can usually be performed under local anesthesia. “The patient reported a noticeable improvement in her symptoms and greater resilience just a few days after the procedure,” adds Dr. Hain.
The average battery life of the new pacemaker is estimated at more than 15 years, making it a reliable solution in the long term. In addition, the system can be easily replaced or supplemented if necessary, so that it can be adapted to the individual course of the disease.
