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| Tiny heart pacemaker is a game changer, says doctor | |
| (17 days later) | |
| Dr Renjith Antony, consultant cardiologist at Castle Hill Hospital, with the new wireless pacemaker | Dr Renjith Antony, consultant cardiologist at Castle Hill Hospital, with the new wireless pacemaker |
| A doctor says a new wireless pacemaker is a game changer for heart patients at risk of infection. | A doctor says a new wireless pacemaker is a game changer for heart patients at risk of infection. |
| Consultant cardiologist Dr Renjith Antony fitted the device, which is smaller than a AAA battery, for the first time at Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire on Wednesday. | Consultant cardiologist Dr Renjith Antony fitted the device, which is smaller than a AAA battery, for the first time at Castle Hill Hospital in East Yorkshire on Wednesday. |
| Mike Wills, who was the recipient, has previously had six traditional pacemakers - needed to keep his heart beating properly - but having suffered issues with them in the past is hoping the new model will be more of a success. | Mike Wills, who was the recipient, has previously had six traditional pacemakers - needed to keep his heart beating properly - but having suffered issues with them in the past is hoping the new model will be more of a success. |
| Recovering at home in Kirton in Lindsey in North Lincolnshire yesterday, he said: "I feel marvellous. I honestly do not know that the device is in there." | Recovering at home in Kirton in Lindsey in North Lincolnshire yesterday, he said: "I feel marvellous. I honestly do not know that the device is in there." |
| Mike Wills recovering at home with his dog, Pip, following his surgery | Mike Wills recovering at home with his dog, Pip, following his surgery |
| Mr Wills added: "I cannot feel it. We will now see how well it does for a patient who is wholly dependent on this device. | Mr Wills added: "I cannot feel it. We will now see how well it does for a patient who is wholly dependent on this device. |
| "Time will tell how long it will last, but I have every confidence in the pacing team." | "Time will tell how long it will last, but I have every confidence in the pacing team." |
| The wireless pacemaker is a one-piece device that is implanted directly into the heart via a vein. It is about 10 times smaller than other models and weighs only a couple of grams. | The wireless pacemaker is a one-piece device that is implanted directly into the heart via a vein. It is about 10 times smaller than other models and weighs only a couple of grams. |
| The surgeon does not need to open the chest and can guide the device using X-ray. | The surgeon does not need to open the chest and can guide the device using X-ray. |
| Traditional pacemakers, which require a separate battery under the skin and wires that connect to the heart, can cause an infection that, according to Dr Antony, can be fatal in 40% of cases. | Traditional pacemakers, which require a separate battery under the skin and wires that connect to the heart, can cause an infection that, according to Dr Antony, can be fatal in 40% of cases. |
| "If the heart gets infected, that's quite serious," he said. | "If the heart gets infected, that's quite serious," he said. |
| "[The new wireless device] is a game changer for patients at risk of infection, patients who are on dialysis, on cancer therapy and also patients who have had a previous infection." | "[The new wireless device] is a game changer for patients at risk of infection, patients who are on dialysis, on cancer therapy and also patients who have had a previous infection." |
| 'Perfect solution' | 'Perfect solution' |
| The hospital fits about 600 pacemakers a year and said the cost of treating an infection could be up to £25,000. In some cases, infected wires can be impossible to remove. | The hospital fits about 600 pacemakers a year and said the cost of treating an infection could be up to £25,000. In some cases, infected wires can be impossible to remove. |
| Dr Antony added: "If a patient has a wire in the heart for 20 years, removing that if it gets infected is risky because it's stuck inside the heart. | Dr Antony added: "If a patient has a wire in the heart for 20 years, removing that if it gets infected is risky because it's stuck inside the heart. |
| "There is a risk of death with such a procedure. He [Mr Wills] had wires in the heart that couldn't even be removed surgically so, for him, this is a perfect solution." | "There is a risk of death with such a procedure. He [Mr Wills] had wires in the heart that couldn't even be removed surgically so, for him, this is a perfect solution." |
| Mr Wills has suffered with problems from traditional pacemakers in the past, making everyday life difficult. | Mr Wills has suffered with problems from traditional pacemakers in the past, making everyday life difficult. |
| "If you had people around you with mobile phones, it really affected how the pacemaker was delivering, so it would really knock it out of sync," he explained. | "If you had people around you with mobile phones, it really affected how the pacemaker was delivering, so it would really knock it out of sync," he explained. |
| "I wasn't allowed to go on escalators and things like that. I've had a problem in Tesco. I was going through a till and I literally went 'wallop' and hit the floor." | "I wasn't allowed to go on escalators and things like that. I've had a problem in Tesco. I was going through a till and I literally went 'wallop' and hit the floor." |
| Surgeons use X-ray to guide the pacemaker into position | Surgeons use X-ray to guide the pacemaker into position |
| "We're hoping this device is going to be a lot less problematic for me," he said. | "We're hoping this device is going to be a lot less problematic for me," he said. |
| "And, hopefully, it will keep up with the demand that I put on it. Just to be able to walk, talk, live. It does the lot. | "And, hopefully, it will keep up with the demand that I put on it. Just to be able to walk, talk, live. It does the lot. |
| "I wouldn't be here without them. It's as simple as that." | "I wouldn't be here without them. It's as simple as that." |
| The surgery lasted an hour and Mr Wills was back home a few hours later. | The surgery lasted an hour and Mr Wills was back home a few hours later. |
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