STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – October 8, 1958 – Medical history was made today at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, where the world's first fully implantable internal pacemaker was successfully placed in a human patient.
The pioneering procedure was performed by cardiac surgeon Åke Senning and utilized a device co-developed with engineer-physician Rune Elmqvist. The recipient was 43-year-old Arne Larsson, a patient facing frequent, life-threatening episodes of heart block.
The device, a major leap from earlier external models that required bulky equipment and often risky temporary leads, integrated the pulse generator, power source (a rechargeable nickel-cadmium battery), and electronic circuit into a compact, epoxy-encapsulated unit.
While the initial implant only functioned for a few hours, a second, more robust device was implanted shortly after, marking the true beginning of the era of long-term cardiac pacing.
"This is a major advancement for cardiac care," stated an observer familiar with the development. "Previous pacing attempts were often cumbersome or required external connections. This implantable design offers the promise of a far more normal and extended life for patients suffering from chronic heart rhythm issues."
The event solidifies Sweden's place at the forefront of medical technology and sets the stage for future developments in miniaturization and longevity that will revolutionize the treatment of heart block worldwide.
