HCA Florida Largo Hospital achieves another first with Dual Chamber Leadless Pacemaker implant

Largo, Fla. – HCA Florida Largo Hospital is first on the west coast of Florida to implant a dual chamber leadless pacemaker system outside of a clinical trial setting. This innovative treatment option reduces the risk of infection and other complications for the estimated millions of people nationally needing pacing in both upper and lower chambers of the heart.

“At HCA Florida Largo Hospital, we serve as a regional referral center for patients with heart disease. I am incredibly proud of our team and how they consistently bring the best and most advanced treatment options to our patients right here in West Florida,” shared Dr. Sebastian Strom, CEO of HCA Florida Largo Hospital.

The new technology involves insertion of two separate leadless pacemakers, one in the right upper chamber, and one on the right lower chamber of the heart. The pacemakers are inserted using a tube inserted in the vein in the groin while the patient is sedated. The leadless pacemakers are only about 1/10 the size of conventional pacemakers. This system offers beat-to-beat communication between the two leadless pacemakers, which synchronizes the upper and lower chambers. Historically, the only option for patients needing dual chamber pacemakers has been a traditional pacemaker, which requires thin wires that conduct the electrical impulses from the pacemaker in the upper chest through the veins to the heart chambers. The new technology requires no wires in the veins, and no incision in the chest. 

Dr. Jeffrey Brumfield and the HCA Florida Largo Hospital electrophysiology team successfully performed this minimally invasive procedure on Friday, July 12, 2024, benefitting Danette Strange-Gay, a 52-year-old woman, who is no stranger to healthcare.  She has a history of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with completed chemotherapy and radiation, nonischemic cardiomyopathy, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and end-stage renal disease. Although she is hopeful in the future to be a kidney transplant recipient, years of dialysis has left her with no suitable location for traditional pacemaker or defibrillator implantation.  About eight years ago, she began experiencing shortness of breath during her daily walk.  A conventional defibrillator was implanted, but this eventually became infected. Strange-Gay was transferred to Dr. Jeffrey Brumfield at HCA Florida Largo Hospital from a local hospital to perform extraction of the defibrillator. She then had symptomatic sinus bradycardia, including severe dizziness and drowsiness. Due to her poor vascular access and history of infection of the defibrillator, she was an excellent candidate for implantation of a dual-chamber leadless pacemaker system, which is now commercially available.

"This technology enables us to improve the lives our patients who require dual chamber pacing. For patients like Danette who are immunocompromised, it will not only treat her slow heart rhythm, but reduce the risk of future complications like infections and offer a shorter recovery time after the procedure,” shared Jeffrey Brumfield MD, board certified cardiologist and clinical cardiac electrophysiologist. “This minimally invasive procedure does not involve a chest incision or implantation of leads in the veins that can fail or become infected. Previously, leadless pacing was only commercially available for pacing the ventricles, which was appropriate for only some patients. With the new atrial leadless pacemaker, we can offer leadless pacing to almost all patients who need a pacemaker, regardless of their diagnosis.”