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The Medical Center - University of Freiburg is the first hospital in Baden-Württemberg to successfully implant a newly developed pacemaker that does not require any cables thanks to its compact design

Cardiac arrhythmia is one of the most common cardiological complaints. They can usually be treated well with a pacemaker. Around 1,300 pacemakers are implanted every year at the University Heart Center (UHZ) at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. Now, for the first time in Baden-Württemberg, the heart specialists there have successfully implanted a newly developed electrodeless pacemaker in a patient. Due to its compact form, the model has a number of advantages for both patients and cardiologists. The costs for the implantation of the model are covered by health insurance if the symptoms are suitable.

Conventional pacemakers consist of a pulse generator placed in the chest area and wires extending from it that are connected to the heart. Since 2015, the cardiologists at the University Heart Center have been implanting electrodeless pacemakers, which do not require wires and are therefore more compact.

Precise insertion and long service life

"With the newly developed model of an electrodeless pacemaker, we can now guarantee even better care," says Prof. Dr. Dirk Westermann, Medical Director of the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, "which is why we are particularly pleased to be the first clinic in Baden-Württemberg to be able to offer this therapy."

Thanks to the small size of the newly developed electrodeless pacemaker of around 1.5 centimeters, implantation directly into the right ventricle of the heart is possible. It can also be precisely adjusted to the desired position during implantation and removed again later if necessary without damaging the surrounding tissue. "It is the first model of a pacemaker that allows such fine adjustment and thus facilitates the procedure," says Dr. Christian Restle, senior physician at the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. The lifespan of the device is estimated at more than 17 years, whereas conventional pacemakers may require a battery change sooner.

Cardiac arrhythmias and the consequences

As a rule, the resting heart rate of a healthy adult is around 60 to 80 beats per minute. In certain diseases, such as the sinus node - a network of cells located in the heart and the heart's natural pacemaker - the rate can fall below 60 beats per minute. Possible consequences include dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath or fainting. An effective treatment is the implantation of a pacemaker, which emits electrical impulses to the heart muscle if the heart rate is too slow or absent and alleviates the symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia.

Caption1: Measuring just 1.5 cm, the newly developed electrodeless pacemaker can be implanted directly into the right ventricle of the heart.

Caption2 : The 81-year-old patient is the first person in Baden-Württemberg to receive the new electrodeless pacemaker.

Image source: Medical Center - University of Freiburg