Harish Manyam, MD, chief of cardiology at Erlanger and Chair of Medicine for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine – Chattanooga, completed Tennessee’s first atrial leadless pacemaker implantation Wednesday.
Officials said, "Erlanger is the first hospital in Tennessee to use the world’s first dual chamber leadless pacemaker system. Through new implant-to-implant technology, this pacemaker overcomes engineering challenges by offering beat-to-beat communication between the two leadless pacemakers in both chambers of the heart.
"Nearly 80 percent of people who receive a pacemaker need a dual chamber option to pace both chambers of the heart.
Before this procedure, the available leadless pacing options had been limited to single-chamber ventricular devices. This procedure has overcome the technological challenge of seamless, wireless synchronization of two leadless pacemakers
"Unlike traditional pacemakers, leadless devices are implanted directly into the heart through a minimally invasive procedure and eliminate the need for cardiac leads. As a result, leadless pacemakers reduce patients’ exposure to potential lead and pocket-related complications and offer a less restrictive and shorter recovery period post-implantation."
"We are grateful to be able to perform this cutting-edge procedure for Chattanooga and to accomplish yet another first in the state of Tennessee for Erlanger and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center," said Dr. Manyam. “Offering this procedure to patients allows Erlanger to achieve its mission by safely and effectively revolutionizing care for those with slow or irregular heart rhythms.”