Ground-breaking surgery changes grandfather’s life

First to have three wireless heart devices

A grandad has made history as the first person in the world to be fitted with three wireless heart devices.

Robert Brind suffered a major heart attack that left him with severe internal damage and scarring.

The 63-year-old from Whitstable, who works for a construction company, said: “It was a complete shock.

“It left my heart severely damaged and I never recovered. “Afterwards I had problems breathing and almost anything was a struggle, such as climbing the stairs or walking slightly uphill. It was very debilitating because I was suddenly unable to do things I’d always taken for granted.”

After the heart attack 15 years ago, Robert was left needing a pacemaker, a cardiac resynchronisation device, and an implantable defibrillator to keep his heart working well.

But when he suffered from infections caused by leads in conventional pacemakers, cardiologists decided he should be fitted with wireless systems. Over a six-month period, experts from St Thomas’ Hospital in London worked to implant the three wireless devices - which had never been used in one patient before.

The ground-breaking procedure was completed in January.. “I’m more active, breathing better and able to do things I haven’t been able to do for a long time,” said Robert. “I feel back to my old self.

“The care I received at St Thomas’ was absolutely outstanding - the team is wonderful. I’ve been exceptionally welltreated.”

Professor Aldo Rinaldi, consultant cardiologist and professor of cardiac electrophysiology, described the success as a “major step forward”.

He said: “Technologies are evolving all the time and in the future it is likely that all such devices will have no leads and will become more integrated. “This is an important step as it is the first proof that the concept works.”

Robert Brind and his wife Pauline