Bryan Heart First in Nebraska to Implant World’s Smallest Pacemaker

Lincoln, NE – Doctors at Bryan Heart are the first in Nebraska to implant Micra, the world’s smallest pacemaker that provides patients with the most advanced technology at one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker.

“Without question, this is one of the most significant advancements in the pacemaker industry in quite some time,” said Dr. Andrew Merliss, cardiac electrophysiologist at Bryan Heart and the first to install the revolutionary pacemaker in Nebraska. “Micra ushers in a new era for pacing therapy, offering patients a smaller, less-invasive alternative. We’re extremely excited to provide this advanced technology to the people of Nebraska and our region.”

Comparable in size to a large vitamin, the Micra Pacemaker features several advancements over traditional pacemakers that can help improve patient outcomes:

• Micra is placed in the heart via a vein in the leg in a minimally invasive procedure, which eliminates a traditional chest incision and reduces activity restrictions following implant
• Micra is completely self-contained and connected to the heart via small prongs, omitting traditional wires that could lead to medical complications
• Micra automatically adjusts the patient’s heart rate to the appropriate rate by sensing changes in the body related to activity level
• Micra is 93 percent smaller than a conventional pacemaker, which makes it cosmetically invisible and eliminates any bumps or imperfections on the skin.

Micra Pacemaker is designed to treat patients with bradycardia, a condition that is characterized by a slow or irregular heart rhythm of less than 60 beats per minute. At this rate, the heart is unable to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body during normal activity or exercise, causing dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath or fainting spells. The Micra Pacemaker is designed to relieve these symptoms by sending electrical impulses to the heart to increase the heart rate.

Bryan Heart includes a team of highly skilled, board certified doctors, surgeons and specialists dedicated to the diagnoses and treatment of a range of heart and vascular conditions. With outreach clinics in over 30 communities across Nebraska and the Midwest, Bryan Heart provides expert care to restore, maintain and improve the lives of people throughout the region. To learn more, visit www.bryanheart.com