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Polish doctors make breakthrough in pacemaker implantation

Xinhua, January 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

Doctors from the Poznan University Hospital of Lord's Transfiguration in Poland implanted world's smallest pacemaker to a patient on Thursday.

The device is 90 percent smaller and lighter than the so-far used pacemakers.

According to the Polish Press Agency, the device weighs around 1 gram. Przemyslaw Mitkowski MD from the Cardiology Clinic of the Poznan Hospital explains that the pacemaker's biggest difference, apart from its size, is a lack of a classic electrode. As the electrode is the most vulnerable part of the device.

The new type of device is placed by a puncture to the femoral vain, opposing to the traditional placement by cutting skin within the subclavian part. It is placed directly into the right ventricle. The new pacemaker is especially vital to patients, who cannot be treated with the traditional one, such as those suffering from vein blockage, or those facing a high risk of complications.

The first device has already been placed to a 70 years old patient, who was constantly conscious, during the operation. Further placements are being planned this week, in the hospitals in Poznan and Zabrze. Endit