After a pair of heart procedures, Michael Burk admits that he has a long road to recovery, but the 75-year-old who lives in Champaign is doing much better thanks to a pacemaker.  Pacemakers work to pace a slow heartbeat, which left unchecked can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and fainting.  A typical pacemaker includes the battery and circuitry in a device about the size of a Post-it note that's implanted in the upper chest.  Two wires—called leads—wind their way to the heart.  One is in the right atrium and one is in the right ventricle.  

Dr. Michael Broman, a cardiac electrophysiologist at OSF says pacemaker technology is evolving yearly.  Dual leadless pacemakers can be an answer to some of the challenges of a traditional pacemaker which means another option for patients as well.  OSF Heart of Mary in downstate Illinois is the only hospital implanting dual leadless pacemakers outside of a medical trial.

Dr. Broman says that these devices can last 15-20 years, longer than the traditional option.  Infection risk is lower, and the devices can communicate with each other within the person and an outside computer that programs the pacemakers.  

Dual leadless pacemaker patients typically have to spend the night in the hospital to allow things to heal, but afterward, they have fewer post-surgery restrictions.  No running, jumping, or heavy lifting for a couple of days instead of weeks. 

Dr. Broman says that someone who simply has a slow heartbeat can be a candidate for a dual leadless pacemaker.  If you have a slow heartbeat and your weak heart can't pump blood properly, you'll still need a traditional system, but Dr. Broman sees this as a major advancement in heart care.

As for Burk, he now continues his recovery at home after taking part in cardiac rehabilitation.

Find out more about keeping your heart healthy by visiting your primary care physician.