A 102-year-old woman in Israel is the oldest known person to receive a cardiac pacemaker, The Jerusalem Post reported April 9.
Rachel Kafri complained to her physician of feeling dizzy and unwell. She later underwent the surgery at Galilee Medical Center in Najariya, Israel.
"To implant a pacemaker in someone at the age of 102 is complex," Shaul Atar, MD, director of the hospital's cardiology department, told the Post. "Rachel and I met 15 years ago when I treated her at Emek Medical Center in Afula. Before any surgical procedure or invasive operation at this age, or at any age, one should think carefully and calculate the risks. Rachel, of course, wondered if it was suitable for her to undergo the procedure. I explained that implanting a pacemaker could extend her life and improve its quality, and that the risks were not high. I am happy that it was successful and that she feels well."