Akwa Ibom records more success in transvenous cardiac pacemaker surgery

Three new transvenous cardiac pacemaker surgeries have been performed at the General Hospital, Awa in Onna Council of Akwa Ibom State. 

Briefing newsmen at the hospital, the surgery team leader, Dr. Eyo Ekpo, said the latest operations brought to five, the number of such procedures carried out at the facility.

He stated the cardiac pacemaker is a life saving procedure that helps to control heartbeat.

He said: “The first pacemaker implant carried out at the General Hospital, Awa took place on February 15, 2023 with two beneficiaries, while the second implant was carried out on March 30 and 31, with three beneficiaries, making a total of five beneficiaries and all were successful.” 

Eyo commended  Governor Udom Emmanuel, who equipped the theatre at the hospital with modern facilities, which, he said, enabled them to carry out the surgeries successfully.

Chief Consultant and Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr. Ezekiel Ogunleye, explained that to prevent patients from side effects of the pacemaker implant, they are often advised to stay away from radioactive waves, which comes from phones and radios.

Ogunleye said changes that happen with age may increase a person’s risk of heart disease, explaining that a major cause of heart disease is the buildup of fatty deposits in the walls of arteries over many years.

According to her, people, who are 65 years and above are much more likely to suffe heart attack than younger people, have stroke or develop coronary heart disease and heart failure.