Calgary patients benefit from leading-edge pacemaker

CALGARY – Patients in Alberta requiring a pacemaker to manage an abnormally slow heartbeat now have access to the world’s first dual-chamber, leadless pacemaker. Traditional pacemakers are small, battery-powered devices surgically implanted underneath the skin in the chest, leaving a scar on the chest and a visible bulge under the skin. They deliver electrical therapy to the heart via thin insulated wires known as cardiac leads.

Leadless pacemakers are the size of an AA battery, one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker. They are implanted directly into the heart through a small incision in the leg vein, eliminating exposure to potential lead and infection-related complications, and offer a less restrictive and shorter recovery period post-implantation.

The leadless AVEIR DR pacemaker, introduced this year, is currently only available at Foothills Medical Centre (FMC) in Calgary and the Montreal Heart Institute.

To date, 15 patients have received the advanced device at FMC.

“This is a significant leap forward for the thousands of patients in Alberta whose lives are impacted by abnormally slow heartbeats,” says Dr. Derek Exner (pictured), a heart rhythm specialist at FMC. “These new generation leadless devices are minimally invasive, present less long-term risk and improve quality of life compared to traditional pacemakers.”

The first-generation AVEIR pacemaker – a device for the bottom chamber of the heart – was introduced to patients at FMC in 2020 as part of a longstanding research program between AHS, the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine and the device manufacturer, Abbott. Although it has proven to be effective, many patients experiencing a slow or irregular heartbeat require a dual-chamber pacemaker for optimum wellness and quality of life.

Albertan John Kebert, 77, was one of those patients.

Despite being an active backpacker, hiker and skier, Kebert had a traditional pacemaker implanted in 2011. While the device helped relieve the shortness of breath experienced while exerting himself, the bulk and inconvenient design had a negative impact on his lifestyle.

“I had to be careful about putting on my backpack to ensure the straps wouldn’t rub against the pacemaker,” he says. “It was something I always had to be aware of when I was out hiking or skiing.”

After developing an infection and experiencing other complications, Kebert had his original pacemaker removed and received a single-chamber, leadless device in 2023. This past May, he received a second pacemaker – the AVEIR DR – which wirelessly communicates with his single chamber device to ensure his upper and lower heart chambers are beating efficiently.

Kebert was out of the hospital that same day and has been enjoying his active lifestyle and outdoor pursuits without thinking about the devices implanted in his heart.

“I am extremely grateful to Dr. Exner, Dr. Wilton, my electrophysiologist, and to the nurses at the hospital for understanding how important an active lifestyle is to me,” says Kebert.

“This technology solved a major medical issue for me and it is much more comfortable to live with compared to my old pacemaker.”

As of 2023, more than 200,000 Canadians live with a pacemaker. Heart rhythm disorders occur in approximately two percent of the general population. Dr. Exner anticipates the number of patients receiving these new pacemakers at FMC and other Canadian hospitals will grow as more physicians and heart teams are trained on the implant and follow-up care.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.