Leading heart rhythm charity, Arrhythmia Alliance, welcomes new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approving the use of ventricular leadless pacemakers across the NHS, offering a less invasive treatment option for people living with slow heart rhythm disorders.
Slow heart rhythms, known clinically as bradyarrhythmias (often called bradycardia), affect around 1 in 1,000 people. They occur when the heart’s natural electrical signals do not work properly, causing the heart to beat too slowly. This can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, fainting, and breathlessness, and in some cases can increase the risk of serious complications if left untreated.
Pacemakers have long been used to treat these conditions. Traditional devices are implanted under the skin in the chest and connected to the heart with wires. While they are very effective, they can sometimes be linked with complications such as life-threatening lead infection.
Leadless pacemakers offer a newer approach. The small device is placed directly inside the heart using a thin tube inserted through a vein, meaning no chest incision and no wires. This can reduce the risk of infection and other complications allowing patients to recover more quickly and return to normal daily activities sooner.
The new NICE guidance follows a major review of international research involving more than one million patients. It concludes that ventricular cardiac leadless pacemakers are a safe and effective option for treating slow heart rhythms and can improve quality of life for many patients. As a result, the procedure should now be offered more widely across the NHS.
Leadless pacemakers may be particularly helpful for people who are at higher risk of infection, have had previous device complications, or have limited access to blood vessels needed for traditional pacemakers.
“Many will be able to return to work and lead active lives thanks to the latest NICE approval”
To maintain high standards of care, the guidance recommends that procedures are carried out by specially trained cardiac heart rhythm teams in experienced centres, with patient outcomes monitored through national data collection to ensure long-term safety and effectiveness.
Dr David Sharman, Consultant Cardiologist and device implanter from Northampton General Hospital, said: ‘This is a seminal step forward in patient choice when a pacemaker is required, offering options that were previously unavailable and enabling a more tailored approach to discussion with patients about their pacing treatment and journey. Although not appropriate for all patients’ pacing requirements, it is a monumental step forward in pacing technology and is becoming a cornerstone of pacing across the globe.’
Arrhythmia Alliance, a leading patient support organisation for people affected by heart rhythm conditions, welcomes the development.
‘Thousands of people living with heart rhythm conditions such as brady-arrhythmia will now be offered the latest technology to treat and manage this debilitating condition. Many will be able to return to work and lead active lives thanks to the latest NICE approval. Arrhythmia Alliance welcomes this news as it will restore the quality of life for so many and reduce infections and ultimately also reduce costs to the NHS and society,’ stated Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder of Arrhythmia Alliance.
Alongside advances in treatment, Arrhythmia Alliance continues to support patients and those living or affected by heart rhythm disorders, providing education, information, support and awareness. Arrhythmia Alliance is a collaboration of patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and policy makers working to improve outcomes for all those impacted by arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The ethos of Arrhythmia Alliance is to collaborate and improve outcomes for patients.
This latest recommendation represents an important step towards improving access to modern, patient-centred care for people living with heart rhythm conditions across the United Kingdom.
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