Methodist Hospital Texsan first in the nation to implant revolutionary technology

San Antonio, Texas — Methodist Hospital Texsan is proud to announce it has successfully implanted the world’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system from Abbott designed to effectively treat people with abnormal or slow heart rhythms. The groundbreaking system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2023, provides the hospital with a new minimally invasive option to treat the nearly 80 percent of people who require pacing in two chambers of the heart (both the right atrium and right ventricle).

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologists, Dr. Javier Roman Gonzalez and Dr. Jacqueline Schwartz implanted the first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker on November 17, 2023. The patient had variations of heart blockages that caused symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness and syncope. “We are very fortunate to be a center that is at the forefront of this advancement in pacing technology,” commented Jacqueline Schwartz, MD.

The leadless pacemakers are miniature battery-powered devices that are implanted directly into the heart via a minimally invasive catheter-based approach, and do not require an incision or cables. The dual-chamber leadless pacemaker is designed to provide synchronous, beat-by-beat pacing of the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. An advantage of this device is that it is retrievable, meaning once the battery runs out, it can be taken out and replaced in the same minimally invasive procedure. Additionally, recovery and exercise restrictions are minimized with this approach compared to the traditional pacemaker.

“This groundbreaking device will revolutionize care for our current patients and creates a significant opportunity to expand the number of people we can serve,” said Esther Kwon, Chief Executive Officer at Methodist Hospital Texsan.

Find out more information about the cardiovascular program at Methodist Hospital Texsan.