HEART POD
Congestive heart failure is the fastest growing form of heart disease in the United States. Drugs can help, but many times, patients don't know when they need them. Now, a new device being studied could put patients in control.
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Walking down the driveway to get a newspaper doesn't seem like a big deal. But it was for Lonnie Marshall.
Lonnie Marshall
Heart Patient
"Couldn't make it to the mailbox and back without stopping along the way, sucking for air and get in the house."
Lonnie has congestive heart failure.
Lonnie Marshall
"I can't crawl in and out the truck like I used to. I used to crawl in and out of the trucks all the time. I have a hard time getting out now."
After antibiotics and steroids failed, Lonnie went to see Doctor William Abraham. He prescribed diuretics -- drugs that rid the body of extra fluid.
William Abraham, MD
Cardiovascular Surgeon
Ohio State University Medical Center
Columbus, OH
"It turns out that most patients who are developing worsening of their heart failure develop what we call congestion, and that's represented as fluid in the lungs, which makes breathing difficult."
Lonnie became the first American patient to test the heart-pod -- a device that measures fluid.
William Abraham, MD
"There's a wire that goes into the heart and a very small can which can be used to extract the information."
The wire and can are surgically implanted. Then, a PDA device reads fluid levels -- telling the patient how much medicine to take.
William Abraham, MD
"We can adjust the dose of the patient's water pills to alleviate the congestion before they get into trouble and before they end up in the emergency department or in the hospital."
Lonnie checks his fluid levels twice a day. He says it's easy to do, and his breathing is getting better.
Right now, the only way to determine if patients have too much fluid in their lungs is if they experience changes in body weight or other symptoms. About 18 patients are testing the heart-pod worldwide so far. Doctor Abraham hopes the device will give heart patients the same control diabetics have when they check their sugar levels.
BACKGROUND: Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is a disorder in which the heart loses its ability to pump blood efficiently. "Congestive heart failure is the most rapidly growing form of heart disease in the United States," says William Abraham, M.D., of Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Oh. Heart failure is a serious condition. About 5 million people in the U.S. have heart failure. Each year, another 550,000 people are diagnosed for the first time. It contributes to or causes about 300,000 deaths each year. Heart failure is almost always a chronic, long-term condition, although it can sometimes develop suddenly. This condition may affect the right side, the left side, or both sides of the heart. As the heart's pumping action is lost, blood may back up into other areas of the body, including the liver, the gastrointestinal tract and extremities, and the lungs. With heart failure, many organs don't receive enough oxygen and nutrients, which damages them and reduces their ability to function properly. Most areas of the body can be affected when both sides of the heart fail. Retaining fluid is a symptom heart failure because the organs that remove fluid from the body aren't working properly. Heart failure patients are asked to closely monitor their weight. Weight gain can be a sign that they are retaining fluid and that the pump function of their heart is worsening.
A NEW MONITOR: Now, patients and doctors can keep a closer watch on congestive heart failure. Surgeons at Ohio State University Medical center are implanting patients with a cardiac device that monitors heart failure. The device, called the HeartPod, has a sensor that is implanted in the heart's left atrial chamber. It measure the left atrial pressure -- a highly consistent predictor of complications associated with chronic heart failure. The device also measures core temperature and the intracardiac electrogram, or EKG. The implanted device sends information to a hand-held unit that displays the measurements. The small computer is pre-programmed by the physician to give directions to patients who can then adjust their own medication. Dr. Abraham says the HeartPod will benefit heart failure patients in several ways. "This is a way for physicians to remotely monitor patients, and with this newest device, patients can manage their own heart failure with the information that's provided," he says. "With this type of information, we can adjust the dose of the patient's water pills to alleviate the congestion before they get into trouble and before they end up in the emergency room or the hospital." Water pills, or diuretics, help flush excess water from the body. Dr. Abraham says he hopes this new technology will help heart failure patients lead more active lives. "This is really an attempt to improve quality of life and ultimately longevity as well," he says.
WARNING SIGNS: For those who don't have a HeartPod, there are several warning signs of worsening heart failure. Watch for sudden weight gain of three or more pounds in one day or five or more pounds in one week. Shortness of breath not related to exercise or exertion is another sign. Swelling of the lower limbs and swelling or pain in the abdomen are other signs to watch for. If you have trouble sleeping, a frequent dry, hacking cough, or increased fatigue, talk to your doctor.
David Crawford
Ohio State University Medical Center
450 West 10th Ave. Box 190
Columbus, OH 43210
(614) 293-3737
Crawford.1@osu.edu
www.rush.edu
Copyright © 2006 Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc.
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