Mater Dei Hospital Performs Malta’s 1st Dual-Chamber Leadless Peacemaker Implant

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Ian Borg congratulated Mater Dei Hospital’s Cardiology Department following the successful implantation of Malta’s first dual-chamber leadless pacemaker, marking a new development in cardiac care for patients in Malta.

Following the procedure, Borg met with the multidisciplinary team behind the achievement, including cardiologists, nurses, cardiac physiologists, radiographers and members of the Cath Lab and Cardiology teams.

Dual-chamber leadless pacemakers are an advanced type of cardiac device that are almost a tenth of the size of conventional pacemakers.

Following clinical trials that began in 2022, the technology is now being introduced in several countries for patients with specific conditions where traditional pacemakers may not be suitable.

Borg thanked Mater Dei Hospital staff for helping Malta remain at the forefront of cardiac care. He said the Government will continue supporting healthcare professionals by providing access to the latest technology and treatment options that can improve patients’ wellbeing and quality of life.

“Our priority is to continue supporting all opportunities to deliver the best possible care, adopting the latest tools and technology that our healthcare professionals need. Ultimately, advances in medicine matter most when they can truly improve the wellbeing and quality of life for our patients,” Borg said.

Dr Andrew Cassar Maempel, Chairman of the Cardiology Department and Consultant Cardiologist at Mater Dei Hospital, explained that leadless pacemakers are implanted directly inside the heart and do not require a pocket beneath the skin or traditional leads passing through veins.

He said the technology can benefit selected patients with previous cardiac device infections, increased infection risks or difficulties accessing veins in the upper limbs.

The new dual-chamber programme builds on Mater Dei Hospital’s leadless pacing service launched in 2023 with single-chamber devices. The latest technology allows two miniature devices placed in different chambers of the heart to communicate and coordinate pacing.

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