Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton recently completed its 100th leadless pacemaker procedure, helping patients with heart blocks and impaired heart rhythms live longer, healthier lives.
The hospital, part of Hamilton Health Care System, has offered the world’s smallest pacemakers, the Micra™ VR and Micra™ AV Transcatheter Pacing Systems (TPS) to patients since 2017.
“We’re thrilled to have reached this milestone of completing our 100th leadless pacemaker procedure,” said Ateet Patel, MD. “It’s a testament to our dedication to providing cutting-edge care and improving quality of life for our patients.”
Leadless pacemakers can prolong patients’ lives by many years. At about the size of a large vitamin, they are 93 percent smaller than conventional pacemakers and cosmetically invisible to the patient after implantation. They leave no chest scars or bumps. Additionally, patients are placed on fewer post-implant activity restrictions and do not face obstructions to shoulder movement.
Micra TPS is a leadless pacemaker option for patients who only require pacing in the right ventricle. It delivers advanced pacing technology to patients via a minimally invasive approach. During the implant procedure, the device is attached to the heart with small tines and delivers electrical impulses that pace the heart through an electrode at the end of the device.
Unlike traditional pacemakers, Micra does not require leads or a surgical “pocket” under the skin, so potential sources of complications related to leads and pockets are eliminated. This can mean fewer post-implant activity restrictions and no obstructions to shoulder movement, allowing patients to get back to living their lives more quickly.
“Leadless pacemaker procedures are not only saving lives but allowing our patients to get back to living their lives more quickly,” said Patel. “The technology represents a significant advancement in cardiac care, allowing us to deliver safer, more effective treatments with fewer complications.”
Approved by the FDA in 2016, Micra VR was the first leadless pacing system available globally.