MIAMI (WSVN) - A man is living with a new lease on life thanks to the help of a tiny pacemaker.
Measuring no longer than the length of a large vitamin, it is the world’s smallest pacemaker, known as the Micra Transcatheter Pacing System (Micra TPS). “It doesn’t have cables, so there’s no restriction of movements afterward, after the procedure is performed,” said Dr. Ivan Mendoza. “Also, there’s no need for the closing incision, also, the risk of infection is very small.”
The pacemaker is already changing the life of 78-year-old Felipe Finale. Finale suffers from bradycardia, a condition which causes his pulse to fall below the normal rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute. Finale’s resting heart rate– just 20 to 30 beats per minute.
Doctors referred Finale to specialist Ivan Mendoza, the Associate Medical Director for the Jackson Medical group’s cardiology practice. Mendoza then recommended the Micra TPS.
Besides being smaller than other pacemakers, it also has no wires and requires no open heart surgery. “The patient would stay for at least four hours after the procedure is performed, just to make sure the groin heals properly, and then they can actually go home the same day,” Mendoza said.
Finale’s surgery was successful, and he now has more energy. He also won’t have to worry about the device for the next 10 years.
The Micra TPS is the only pacemaker of its kind approved for use in the United States.
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