The beat goes on with new tech
A MOUNT Isa man has become the first patient outside the southeast to receive an innovative heart- saving device.
When Hilary Petrie, 76, started blacking out, he knew something was not right.
“The first time it happened was a very hot day and I thought it might have been related to the heat,” he said.
“When it happened a second time I went to the Mount Isa Hospital before being transferred to Townsville.
“There, they diagnosed me with atrial fibrillation or an irregular heartbeat.’’
Cardiac electrophysiologist Dr Kevin Ng determined Mr Petrie would be an ideal candidate for an innovative new “leadless” cardiac pacemaker.
“Mr Petrie has a smaller frame, with very brittle and thinned skin, ( so) a traditional pacemaker would have been quite bulky on him with a higher risk of wound infection,” Dr Ng said.
“The leadless pacemaker leaves no scarring or visible bumps on the patient’s chest and as there are no leads that track from beneath skin to the heart, the risks of infec- tions are significantly reduced.”
Townsville Hospital is the first facility outside southeast Queensland and just the third in the state to trial the Medtronic Micra Transcatheter Pacing System, or leadless pacemaker.
The device is about one tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker and is implanted directly into the heart, reducing the risk of complications.
Mr Petrie said he was feeling great following the procedure.
“Since getting the pacemaker I’m now able to be on my feet all day,” he said.