NOW NEW DEVICE THAT CAN SLOW, REVERSE HEART FAILURE
Scientists have
developed a new implantable device that can help in controlling and reversing
heart failure, it has been reported.
According to lead
researcher Dr. William Abraham of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical
Center the new device has shown promising results in the first trial to
determine safety and effectiveness in patients.
Researchers at
seven U.S. centers examined an extra-aortic counterpulsation system called
C-Pulse, made by Sunshine Heart Inc. It's a cuff that wraps around the aorta
and syncs with the patient's heartbeat, rapidly inflating and deflating a small
balloon to help squeeze blood through the aorta to circulate throughout the
body.
It's powered
through a wire that exits the abdomen and connects to an external driver worn
by the patient. The driver could be plugged in or battery-powered.
The most common
adverse effect during the trial was infection of the exit site, experienced by
8 out of 20 participants. Researchers noted that stricter guidelines for exit
site management, wound care and antibiotic therapy could reduce that risk in
future studies.
There were no hospitalizations
among the participants for stroke, thrombosis, sepsis or bleeding, which often
occurs in patients using left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). The
researchers said this was due to the device remaining outside the bloodstream.
Another important
difference was the C-Pulse device could be temporarily turned off and
disconnected, allowing patients some conveniences that an LVAD doesn't permit.
The study is
published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology Heart Failure.
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