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| A new wireless heart failure monitoring system, available at Cox Branson, sends pressure readings directly to a patient's doctor and can help providers intervene quickly before a patient's heart problem worsens. |
There’s
a new way to manage heart failure, and CoxHealth is the only hospital system in
southwest Missouri where it can be found.
The
procedure consists of a sensor being implanted in a patient’s pulmonary artery.
Once implanted, the wireless sensor sends pressure readings directly to the
patient’s doctor – which means that when there’s a heart-related issue, the
doctor knows right away and can help intervene before the problem gets worse.
The procedure, which debuted at Cox South last fall, is expected to be
performed for the first time at Cox Branson this spring.
“This
new technology gives us the opportunity to give patients a better quality of
life,” says Narin Arunakul, MD, a cardiologist with Cox Branson. “The sooner we
address issues, the greater ability we have to intervene and manage a patient’s
condition before it deteriorates. This extra time can truly be life-changing
for our patients.”
“What
makes this device so incredible is the fact that it will allow us to catch a
problem before symptoms occur and ultimately, we will be able to prevent
further heart damage,” said Ryan Sigle, RN, assistant nurse manager, Cox
Branson Cardiac Cath Lab.
The
system’s sensor, part of the CardioMEMS Heart Failure System, is implanted
during a non-surgical procedure and directly measures pressure on the artery.
It’s the only FDA-approved heart failure monitoring device that has been proven
to significantly reduce hospital admissions when used by physicians to manage
heart failure.
The
sensor is designed to last the patient’s lifetime and doesn’t require
batteries. There is no pain or sensation for the patient during the readings.
And its results are in the data: A clinical trial showed that the CardioMEMS
technology reduces heart failure hospital admissions by up to 37 percent.
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