An Epworth cardiologist who recently implanted Victoria's first available lead-free dual chamber pacemaker technology, has secured a $98,000 research grant to expand access to the revolutionary devices for patients undergoing heart surgery.
Associate Professor Michael Wong has implanted seven Abbott AVEIR leadless pacemakers at Epworth hospitals over the past three months and is the only specialist in Victoria qualified to teach the technology.
The leadless pacemaker differs to a traditional pacemaker, with patients so far experiencing reduced pain, no visible scarring and improved recovery times.
The lead-free device offers all the clinical benefits of a traditional dual chamber pacemaker, while reducing the chance of pocket and lead-related complications, such as infection, lead insulation problems, blood vessel narrowing/scarring or clots, skin erosion and keloid scarring. There is also no restrictive arm movement after implantation.
Now, A/Prof Wong has been awarded an Epworth Medical Foundation Innovation Grant to undertake research into the technology to broaden its use to help more patients.
"The leadless pacemaker is a game changer for cardiac patients, and Epworth is at the forefront of this incredible technology," A/Prof Wong said.
"It is suitable for a large number of cardiac patients, and we have already seen improvements in the patients' overall mobility and recovery from surgery."
Known as AVEIR VR (single chamber) or AVEIR DR (dual chamber), the leadless pacemaker can be implanted in the heart's atrial and ventricular chambers – making it the first technology in the world available for leadless dual chamber cardiac pacing.
Until now, dual chamber pacemakers required a set of wires to connect two chambers of the heart to a pacemaker generator which sits in a soft tissue pocket under the patient's skin. This not only restricts a patient's arm movement but can also lead to increased risk of infection.
The leadless pacemaker is inserted through a catheter with no wires or visible scarring from the top of the leg in the groin region through the skin. Two small 'bullet sized' devices are placed in each chamber of the heart, syncing together wirelessly using electrical impulses.
A/Prof Wong said the technology was especially useful for patients with limited vascular access or at high risk of infection in cases where traditional pacemaker systems could not be used.
The first surgery was conducted at Epworth Eastern in Box Hill in late 2024, and since then six other patients have been implanted with the device with plans to implant a further 10 devices in the next 12 months.
Patient John Smith, 84, said he had been surprised by his recovery after having a lead-free pacemaker implanted in mid-December due to an irregular heartbeat.
Mr Smith, from Kew, said he had been told a traditional pacemaker would mean he could no longer use his induction cooktop or microwave at home, and there would be a wait for him to return to the golf course. For the keen traveller, it would also be an inconvenience during airport screenings.
"Michael said I was an ideal candidate for this lead-free device, and it all went well. I was awake during the whole procedure and went home at 10am the next day," Mr Smith said.
"It's been a bit of myth buster too, because I was told with a regular pacemaker I wouldn't be able to use induction cooking and we've used induction cooking at home for the last 15 years. I was told using microwaves wouldn't be possible, I was told it was going to take me six weeks before I could play golf, so all those myths were exploded with this device.
"I remember asking about precautions to take during the recovery and he just said just don't lift anything heavy for the rest of this week – that was it. I was a bit stunned by it all. A few weeks later and I'm back playing golf.
The new pacemaker, named by TIME Magazine as one of its Top 200 inventions of 2023, was first implanted in patient Sushma Grover at Epworth Eastern who is progressing well.
A member of the Epworth HealthCare Cardiac Sciences Clinical Institute, A/Prof Wong is one of just five specialists around Australia and the only one in Victoria qualified as a proctor to teach other specialists to implant this state-of-the-art technology.
