One thousand smallest pacemakers implanted in Poland – saving high-risk patients

One thousand of the world's smallest leadless pacemakers have already been implanted in Zabrze. This is a groundbreaking treatment method for patients whose medical conditions preclude traditional pacemaker implantation. Experts emphasize that for many people, this represents the only real chance for survival.

The Silesian Center for Heart Diseases in Zabrze has just performed the 1,000th implantation of the world's smallest leadless pacemaker. As Dr. Adam Sokal, MD, who performed this groundbreaking implant, explained, modern technology offers a chance for life to patients who cannot benefit from traditional cardiac pacing. He noted:

The thousandth patient was elderly and his health was seriously compromised – he also suffered from serious atrioventricular conduction disorders and pneumonia.

The leadless pacemaker, similar in size to a vitamin capsule, is implanted directly into the right ventricle of the heart. The procedure is typically performed through the femoral vein, which is significantly less invasive than traditional methods. Recently, access through the jugular vein has also become available. This is a crucial solution for patients with anatomical limitations or a very high risk of infection, for whom a traditional pacemaker could be life-threatening.

Leadless cardiac pacing has been used worldwide for 12 years. The first such procedure was performed in Poland in 2016, pioneered by Prof. Przemysław Mitkowski, MD, PhD, of the Poznań University of Medical Sciences. As Professor Mitkowski emphasized, the technology has not only proven effective but also demonstrated long-term reliability:

According to data cited by experts, approximately 30,000 pacemakers are implanted in Poland each year. While most are traditional devices, the leadless pacemaker is gaining increasing recognition, especially among high-risk patients, for whom this technology may be their only chance to save their lives.

Source: PAP/MH