- With a very small size and a longevity of 40%, up to 14 years, it allows its placement to be assessed in younger patients.
- Its algorithm facilitates remote monitoring, through home monitoring, and optimizes synchronization between the atrium and the ventricle.
The University Hospital of Vinalopo, managed by the Ribera healthcare group, has been the first centre in the province of Alicante to implant the new MICRA AV2 leadless pacemaker. A modern device 10 times smaller than a conventional pacemaker and which offers great improvements for patients.
This is the second generation of leadless pacemakers, with a 40% longer lifespan, as they have a battery life of up to 14 years with 100% stimulation. The longer battery life, as explained by the cardiologist at the Vinalopó University Hospital, Dr. Luis González, “allows us to consider implanting this device in younger patients who need it and thus expand the therapeutic options, providing the alternative that best suits the needs of each patient.”
Dr. González, who implanted the first leadless pacemaker in 2023, has highlighted the advantages of the second generation of this type of device. It is a very small pacemaker, about 2,5 cm long, similar to the size of two fingernails. “By eliminating the need for wires or a surgical “pocket” under the skin, intravascular infections and possible sources of complications are avoided. In addition, no visible indication of the device is left,” he explains.
The longer battery life is the major development of this pacemaker, which allows for a longer useful life, along with the possibility of remotely monitoring the patient's activity and progress in their daily life, at home. "We cannot reprogram the pacemaker, but we can monitor whether any significant alteration occurs in the patient's heart," explains Dr. González. In addition, this pacemaker has an algorithm that optimizes synchronization between the atrium and the ventricle.
With this new development, the Vinalopó University Hospital continues to maintain its leadership in the treatment of heart diseases, offering comprehensive care through leading services and units such as cardiology, cardiac electrostimulation, haemodynamics and cardiac surgery.