The Cardiology Department of the Annunziata Hospital in Cosenza reaches another milestone! After the implantation of the wireless pacemaker, another innovative intervention was successfully performed yesterday.
In the Electrophysiology and Cardiac Stimulation room, the team – doctors Gianluca Quirino, Letizia Romano and Pierangelo Calvelli – led by Prof. Antonio Curcio, Director of the Cardiology Unit of the Annunziata hospital performed the implantation of two wireless pacemakers, placed in the atrium and ventricle, in a patient with heart block and syncope.
The cardiac electrophysiology intervention marks an important milestone for Calabrian cardiology. In fact, the Annunziata is one of the first centers in Italy where the implantation of the two miniaturized devices was successfully carried out, consolidating its position among the national excellences in the cardiology and arrhythmology fields.
The patient, an 84-year-old woman from a small town in the province of Calabria, had presented herself to the emergency room of the city hospital following a sudden loss of consciousness. After a rapid diagnosis of trifascicular block, she was transferred to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (UTIC) to undergo high-intensity care, and yesterday underwent implantation of a dual-chamber “leadless” pacemaker.
The new wireless dual chamber pacemaker It consists of two units, positioned in the right ventricular and atrial chambers; the sensors have extremely small dimensions and weight, there are no connecting cables, and they are directed through the blood vessel system to the heart thanks to fluorography. A dedicated external computer imparts communication between the two devices that are thus permanently connected to each other, and allow for adequate atrioventricular synchrony. The technique used for the implant is transcatheter, that is, through the leg. arrhythmia is treated at a specific point in the heart dramatically reducing the risk of infections and ensuring a quicker recovery for patients. Since the devices are inserted through a single venous puncture in the groin under local anesthesia, so there is no surgical wound to the shoulder because with this new technology there is no need for a generator, but the two batteries are “screwed” directly into the heart.
“Today’s technology – explained Prof. Curcio, professor of Cardiovascular Diseases at Unical – allows us to insert two generators of electrical micro-impulses directly into the heart through the femoral vein, without leaving visible external signs. The central venous access site is closed simply with manual compression of the groin.”
Another milestone for the Cosenza Hospital, which contributes to significantly improving the quality of life of patients, expanding the offer of health services, thanks to the use of new cutting-edge technologies.
“Medical assistants in specialist training – added Prof. Curcio – who will enroll in the very recent School of Specialization in Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Calabria, as well as students enrolled in the degree course in Medicine and Surgery TD (Digital Technologies) will from now on participate in screening programs, implant procedures and periodic outpatient clinical checks of patients also treated with this new therapy, encouraging the creation of scientific collaborations, clinical studies and competitive research doctorates”.