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World’s smallest pacemaker implanted in Polish hospital

The world’s smallest pacemaker, “Micra” system a device the size of a fingernail, was implanted into the patient at the Center for Invasive Cardiology, Electrotherapy and Angiology, which is run by GVM Carint in the hospital building in Oświęcim, southern Poland, the local authorities reported on Friday.

According to cardiologist Dr Agnieszka Czunko, the “Micra” pacemaker is a technological leap in the miniaturization of cardiological devices.

“The device is implanted directly into the right ventricle. No need to open the chest; a small incision in the femoral vein is enough. The pacemaker is ten times smaller than the standard one. It weighs less than two grams and looks more like a drug capsule than a pacemaker. The ‘Micra’ system can be used on everyone, but it is the only salvation for people without traditional vascular access or after infectious complications” she said.

As she emphasised, the biggest advantage of the pacemaker is that it effectively stimulates the heart without the need to implant electrodes. “This means that the risk of possible complications is reduced by almost 50 percent and the microscopic battery allows the device to operate for up to 12 years,” she explained.

A patient with an implanted device can undergo magnetic resonance imaging. The length of stay in hospital is standard, but the recovery time is much shorter. There are also no problems with the healing of the surgical wound.

“The ‘Micra’ pacemaker is not a device that today can fully replace traditional pacemakers. It is used in strictly defined indications for example due to obstruction of the venous system” – Witold Żmuda, head of the cardiology department at Oświęcim’s hospital, said.

The GVM Carint cardiology department in Oświęcim has been operating for twelve years. It performs all types of cardiological procedures. St. Maksymilian Kolbe Hospital in Oświęcim has about 530 beds in several wards, as well as over 20 specialist clinics.

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