Tiny pacemaker could reduce open heart surgeries for infants

Measuring about 1cm², the device could be delivered using a small 1cm incision, removing the need for lengthy and traumatic open heart surgeries. Paediatric open-heart surgery can take up to several hours, depending on the child’s medical complexities. In the study, which will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2018, the prototype was tested on piglets. It was found that the median time from incision to attaching the pacemaker was 25 minutes.

“Placing a pacemaker in a small child is different than operating on an adult, due to their small chest cavity and narrow blood vessels,” said lead author Dr Rohan Kumthekar, a cardiology fellow at Children’s National. “By eliminating the need to cut through the sternum or the ribs and fully open the chest to implant a pacemaker, the current model, we can cut down on surgical time and help alleviate pain.”