Research Provides Insight on Quality of Life and Cardiac Recovery with Mechanical Circulatory ...
Paris, FR (MMD Newswire) April 23, 2009 -- Novel data show improvements in the use and outcomes of mechanically assisted circulatory support devices (MCSD) for patients suffering from heart disease. Research and discussion will be presented Friday, April 24, at the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions at the Palais des Congres in Paris.
"Advanced heart failure is a lethal condition. Ventricular assist devices benefit not only individuals who are waiting for a transplant but also those who are not transplant candidates," said Edwin McGee, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL. "The latest generation of pumps is smaller and easier to implant and offers improved length and quality of life for more patients with advanced heart failure."
Improved Quality of Life:
Recent data show improved quality of life (QoL) for patients following implantation of MCSDs, also called ventricular assist devices (VADs). Patient QoL was studied through observational data collected within the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS). (see below for more detail)
Key findings from the INTERMACS report indicate that QoL was poor prior to MCSD implantation and improved significantly in patients following MCSD implantation.
On Friday morning (9:45 am local time), Kathleen Grady, PhD, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, will present findings and discussion toward understanding the changes in QoL from before-to-after MCSD implantation.
According to Dr. Grady, more research is needed to examine relationships between QoL and demographic characteristics, clinical variables, physical function, activities of daily living, emotional status, and symptoms. A better understanding of QoL after MCSD implantation will provide direction for developing interventions that can be tested and ultimately contribute to enhanced QOL outcomes.
Cardiac Recovery After MCSD:
Very few chronic heart failure patients have been weaned from an MCSD, but promising research demonstrates cardiac stability in these patients for more than five years after device removal. Research suggests that weaning patients from MCSDs can be successful even in patients with chronic heart failure and incomplete recovery.
During Friday morning's session, researchers will discuss data on cardiac stability after device removal based on a study of patients weaned from an MCSD more than five years prior. Factors including history of heart failure, duration of MCSD support, and echocardiographic data will help to identify patients with the potential to remain stable for five or more years after weaning.
Mechanical Devices In Children:
Mechanical circulatory assist devices are most commonly used in adult patients, but studies show that children suffering from end-stage heart disease may also benefit from MCSD implantation. INTERMACS criteria have been developed to standardize outcomes reporting, including outcomes in pediatric patients. No such criteria have been previously published that apply to children with MCSDs.
Research on the use of INTERMACS criteria to assess major clinical outcomes in children with MCSDs will be presented during this morning's session. According to study authors M.L. Stein et al. these data serve as a baseline for future MCSD studies in children, and indicate good survival rates, but still considerable morbidity.
About INTERMACS:
INTERMACS (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support) is a national registry for patients who are receiving mechanical circulatory support device therapy to treat advanced heart failure. This registry was devised as a joint effort of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), clinicians, scientists and industry representatives. Analysis of the data collected is expected to facilitate improved patient evaluation and management while aiding in better device development. Registry results are also expected to influence future research and facilitate appropriate regulation and reimbursement of MCSD implantations. For more information, visit www.intermacs.org.
About ISHLT:
The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) is a not-for-profit organization with more than 2,700 members from over 45 countries dedicated to the advancement of the science and treatment of end-stage heart and lung diseases. For more information, visit www.ishlt.org.
###
Media Contact:
Lauren Mason, MasonPR
Press Room: +33 (0)1 40 68 64 03
Mobile: (210) 857-2521
Email: lmason@masonpr.com
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
