'Myth-busting' heart device at Epworth

John Smith, 84, is back on the golf course a lot sooner than he expected – thanks to a revolutionary 'myth-busting' pacemaker heart device.

The Melbourne resident was one of the first beneficiaries of a $98,000 research grant given to Associate Professor Michael Wong, a cardiologist at Epworth HealthCare.

A/Prof Wong recently implanted Victoria's first available leadless dual-chamber pacemaker and is the only specialist in Victoria qualified to teach the Abbott AVEIR technology.

"Michael said I was an ideal candidate for this lead-free device, and it all went well. I was awake during the whole procedure and went home at 10am the next day," said Mr Smith, who had the procedure in mid-December 2024 due to an irregular heartbeat.

He had been told having a traditional pacemaker with wires would mean he could no longer use his induction cooktop or microwave at home, and there would be a long wait for him to return to the golf course, while it would also be an inconvenience during airport screenings. 

"It's been a bit of myth-buster," Mr Smith said. "All those myths were exploded with this device.

"I remember asking about precautions to take during the recovery and he just said just don't lift anything heavy for the rest of this week – that was it. I was a bit stunned by it all. A few weeks later and I'm back playing golf."

Epworth cardiologist Associate Professor Michael Wong

Pacemakers traditionally require a set of wires to connect two chambers of the heart to a generator placed in a soft tissue pocket under the patient's skin. It not only restricts arm movement but can also lead to increased risk of infection.

The leadless pacemaker is inserted through a catheter, with no wires or visible scarring, from the top of the leg in the groin region through the skin.

Two small 'bullet-sized' devices are placed in each chamber, syncing together wirelessly using electrical impulses.

"The technology is especially useful for patients with limited vascular access or at high risk of infection in cases where traditional pacemaker systems cannot be used," A/Prof Wong said.

He is one of just five specialists in Australia qualified as a proctor to teach other specialists to use this state-of-the-art technology.

His first surgery was conducted at Epworth Eastern in Box Hill in late 2024, followed by six more patients including Mr Smith, with plans to implant a further 10 devices in the next 12 months.

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