Leadless pacemakers fitted in a first for Castle Hill Hospital

The first patients to be fitted with a leadless pacemaker have undergone surgery, marking a milestone for Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham.

The most common reason for getting a pacemaker is a heart rhythm problem that makes the heart slow down a lot, which can cause the patient to faint or pass out.

A leadless pacemaker is a one-piece device that is implanted directly into the heart via a vein. Unlike traditional pacemakers, it does not require a separate battery under the skin or leads that connect to the heart.

The device, which is about three to four centimetres long, weighing only approximately 2g, resembles a small metal cylinder and is smaller than an AAA battery. Signals from the leadless pacemaker help maintain a normal heart rhythm.

Three patients underwent day surgery on Wednesday in the Cardiac Catheter labs at Castle Hill Hospital.

The benefits of leadless pacemakers over traditional pacemakers are substantial. Patients experience a reduced risk of complications and a minimally invasive procedure, leading to quicker recovery times and a lower chance of infection.

The device's smaller size makes it more comfortable, eliminating the lump under the skin on the chest associated with traditional pacemakers.

Additionally, the leadless pacemaker is a single piece, which is 90 per cent smaller than a traditional pacemaker, and it is safe for use in MRI machines.

There is no chest incision or scar, and the device interferes less with daily activities. Moreover, the leadless pacemaker boasts a longer battery life, lasting up to 16 years compared to the 10-year battery life of traditional pacemakers.

Dr Renjith Antony, Consultant Cardiologist, said: “These devices are much more comfortable for the patient, smaller and the operation is much less invasive.

“The introduction of leadless pacemakers represents a significant advancement in cardiac care for our region. Our patients can now benefit from a safer, more comfortable, and longer-lasting solution for managing heart rhythm disorders."

The types of patients who may benefit from a leadless pacemaker over a traditional one include those who cannot have traditional pacemakers due to issues accessing the heart through chest veins. They are also suitable for patients with indwelling catheters or those on dialysis, as these conditions increase the risk of infection with traditional pacemakers.

Other groups that may benefit include patients without standard upper limb venous access, those with previous device infections, patients under 40 to preserve chest veins, those undergoing radiotherapy, patients planned for surgery in the standard pacemaker anatomy, severely immunocompromised individuals, those with congenital heart disease, and patients with tricuspid valve dysfunction. Leadless pacemakers significantly reduce the risk of infection and associated complications.

Mike Wills, 75, was the first patient in the East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire region to receive the leadless pacemaker. He’s been wholly dependent on a pacemaker for 25 years and has had six different devices over that period. Having suffered with an infection down the leads of a pacemaker previously, he’s optimistic about the new device. He said:

"The team at Castle Hill have been looking after me since 2000/2001. I owe my life to the team over and over again. It’s marvellous how much the technology has advanced over the years; I’ve had numerous procedures, awake and under anaesthetic. There’s a lot of things people don’t realise about pacemakers, even escalators can interfere with them, so this new model sounds much more positive compared to the old ones – but I wouldn’t be here without them!”

Not all patients will be suitable for a leadless device. Last year 600 traditional pacemakers were fitted. It’s estimated between five to ten leadless devices will be fitted at Castle Hill Hospital in the first year, with a total of three patients having received them this week.