New generation pacemakers at MMM

CHENNAI: The Madras Medical Mission (MMM) on Thursday announced it would start using second generation pacemakers. The hospital claimed it was the first in the country to use the second generation pacemakers, that allow MRI-scans to be done. This is a progress from the earlier pacemakers, which could fail if put through an MRI scan, leading to the death of the patient.“In the first generation pacemakers, both the device and the wire are bulky. Also, a patient’s discomfort and risk level was high because the pacemaker implanted could not undergo an MRI scan as the alloys are sensitive to magnetic forces and may cause damage to the heart, leading to death,” said Dr Ulhas M Pandurangi, Senior Consultant Cardiologist and Electro Physiologist at MMM.He also noted that the older pacemakers were attached with screws to the muscle walls of the heart. The second generation pacemakers, on the other hand, are more compact and also easier to implant, he added.The new pacemakers had been released in the international market only on March 5, and MMM claims it is the first hospital in India to use them. The new generation pacemakers in use at MMM are manufactured in the US and imported to India from Europe.Dr Ulhas also added that the new pacemakers have been put through extensive testing to ensure their MRI-safety. They have been tested in more than four lakh conditions, some of which include different patient body types, scanning locations, MRI scanner types and lead lengths. This will make patients’ life easier. Dr Mullasari Ajit, Director-Cardologist, said, the hospital has implanted second generation pacemakers in two patients so far — a 58-year-old male and a 76-year-old female.KMS Gani, the 58-year-old male patient from Chennai, said, “The pacemaker was implanted on March 12 at MMM, as my pulse rate was found to be very low. Also, I was not able to climb stairs. But post-implantation, I am able to climb steps without any difficulties.”