New Brunswick patients gain access to world’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker

New Brunswick patients gain access to world’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker First-in-province procedure performed at Horizon’s New Brunswick Heart Centre

(SAINT JOHN) – Patients in New Brunswick requiring a pacemaker to manage abnormal or slow heart rhythms now have access to the world’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker, marking a significant milestone in cardiac care in the province.

Dr. Bassel Lakkis, a cardiologist at Horizon’s New Brunswick Heart Centre (NBHC) in Saint John, is the first physician in the province to implant the AVEIR DR dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system. An innovation by Abbott, a global healthcare company, the device represents the next generation of cardiac pacing technology.

“Being able to offer this technology means we can provide patients with a less invasive option that closely mimics the heart’s natural rhythm,” said Dr. Lakkis. “It is very rewarding to bring world-first advancements like this to New Brunswick and ensure our patients have access to the best care possible.”

Traditional pacemakers are battery-powered devices surgically implanted under the skin in the chest, often leaving a visible scar and device bulge. Electrical therapy is then delivered to the heart through thin insulated wires known as cardiac leads.

The AVEIR DR leadless pacemakers are one-tenth the size of traditional devices — similar in size to a AA battery — and are implanted directly into the heart through a small puncture in a leg vein. This minimally invasive approach eliminates cardiac leads and reduces the risk of infection-related complications.

The AVEIR DR system consists of two independent leadless pacemakers — one implanted in the right atrium and one in the right ventricle. Using Abbott’s innovative i2i (implant-to-implant) communication technology, the two devices wirelessly coordinate with one another to help the heart beat in a more synchronized and natural manner.

“Maintaining synchronized pacing between the heart’s upper and lower chambers is critical to supporting the heart’s natural rhythm and improving blood flow,” said Leonard Ganz, M.D., divisional vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer at Abbott’s cardiac rhythm management business. “For decades, achieving that coordination without leads was a challenge – one that Abbott engineers sought to solve. AVEIR DR overcomes that barrier, giving patients with slow or abnormal heart rhythms a less invasive, leadless option that can improve both daily function and quality of life.”

The NBHC has previously implanted single‑chamber leadless pacemakers, making the introduction of dual‑chamber leadless pacing a natural evolution in care for patients who require coordinated pacing between the upper and lower chambers of the heart.

Based on patient needs, the NBHC expects to perform between five and 10 dual-chamber leadless pacemaker procedures each year.

Heart rhythm disorders affect approximately two per cent of the general population. As of 2023, more than 200,000 Canadians were living with a pacemaker.

“Introducing the world’s first dual‑chamber leadless pacemaker in New Brunswick speaks to the expertise of our clinical teams and our leadership in advanced cardiac care,” said Dr. Jean-François Légaré, Physician Program Lead for Horizon’s Cardiac Care Program. “It reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering innovative, patient‑centred treatments that improve outcomes and quality of life for New Brunswickers.”

The NBHC is the province’s only tertiary cardiac care centre. Located at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital, the centre serves more than a million residents of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, performing over 4,300 cardiac procedures annually.

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