New way to improve success of pacemakers

BRITISH scientists have developed new software to ensure pacemakers are implanted more precisely and in the best position.

This is crucial because bad positioning may result in the patient’s heart failure symptoms getting worse or patients needing another operation.

The software, which has been developed by a team at King’s college London and Siemens Healthcare, superimposes a 3d model of the patient’s heart on X- ray images of their chest, which doctors can view on a screen during the procedure.

The technology is being tested at Guy’s and St Thomas’ nHS Foundation Trust in London, where so far 12 patients have had pacemakers implanted successfully this way.