Specialists at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) have successfully implanted a leadless pacemaker for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa.
Reports indicate that the milestone expected to expand treatment options for patients with heart rhythm disorders across the region.
According to reports, the procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary cardiac team led by Dr Mohamed Jeilan, Head of Cardiology at AKUH, positioning the hospital among a select group of centres globally offering this next-generation technology.
Reports indicate that the device used was the latest-generation Micra AV2 leadless pacemaker, which can coordinate electrical activity between heart chambers in selected patients, expanding the number of individuals who can benefit from leadless technology compared with earlier systems.
Leadless pacemakers are roughly the size of a large tablet and are implanted inside the heart during a minimally invasive procedure that typically lasts under an hour.
Further reports indicate that experts recommend leadless pacemakers in specific situations where they may offer advantages over conventional devices.
These include patients with blocked veins, those on long-term dialysis, individuals with a high risk of infection, and patients who have previously experienced device infections.
According to experts, the leadless pacemakers is expanding as technology advances, with future systems expected to treat more complex rhythm disorders and potentially heart failure conditions without traditional wires.
