Man one of the first to get pen lid-sized pacemaker

Graham Motteram, 76, is the first person in Southampton to be given the new style of pacemaker

A Hampshire patient has become one of the first in the UK to receive a pen lid-sized pacemaker.

Graham Motteram, 76, from Romsey, underwent a 30-minute procedure at Southampton General Hospital.

It is the first time experts at the hospital have used the Aveir VR leadless pacemaker, which is 10 times smaller than the current standard device.

Mr Motteram has since been discharged and said: "I feel better than I have in months."

He was sent for treatment following a high reading on a routine blood pressure check and abnormal ECG results at his local GP surgery.

He said: “I arrived at the hospital and to my worry was rushed straight through with no wait. After various examinations [I] was told that I would need a pacemaker fitted."

A team of heart experts, led by Professor Paul Roberts, implanted the new device for Mr Motteram 10 days later.

Prof Roberts said: "[It] represents a significant advancement in patient care with leadless pacemaker technology.

"The battery life of this device has the potential to last for more than 20 years in some patients."

How does it work?

The device is implanted into the heart’s right ventricle and is held in place by turning its spiral tip, which houses a small electrode for sensing and pacing stimulation.

The device receives a message after every heartbeat and, if needed, delivers an electrical pulse to correct the slow or irregular heart rhythm.

The device helps people with Bradycardia, which is a slower-than-normal heart rate.

There are more than 1.5 million people in the UK diagnosed with a heart rhythm condition that puts them at increased risk of a stroke, according to British Heart Foundation data.