The Palermo Polyclinic in Sicily has made medical history with the successful implantation of the world‘s smallest pacemaker on two patients, a man and a woman. The groundbreaking procedure was carried out by Dr. Giuseppe Coppola and his team of experts at the university hospital.
The pacemakers used in the procedure, Medtronic Micra Av2 and Micra Vr2, are comparable in size to a vitamin tablet and were implanted directly into the heart cavity via the femoral vein. This new generation of miniaturized pacemakers eliminates the potential complications associated with traditional pacemakers, such as the need for leads and a surgical “pocket” under the skin. Additionally, these devices have a battery longevity that is 40% longer, reducing the likelihood that patients will need multiple pacemakers throughout their lifetime.
Dr. Coppola expressed his pride in being the first hospital in Italy to adopt this cutting-edge technology and highlighted the significant benefits it offers to patients. The commissioner of the university hospital, Maria Grazia Furnari, praised the high quality of care provided by the hospital’s Cardiology team and emphasized the importance of teamwork in achieving such groundbreaking advancements.
Pacemakers play a crucial role in treating heart conditions such as slow or irregular rhythms and AV block, by helping to restore the heart’s normal rhythm through electrical impulses. Dr. Giuseppina Novo, the director of the Cardiology department, highlighted the additional advantages of Micra technology, including its remote monitoring capabilities.
The successful implantation of these tiny pacemakers marks a significant milestone in the field of cardiology and underscores the commitment of the Palermo Polyclinic to providing patients with the most advanced and innovative medical solutions.