Breakthrough surgical treatment for congestive heart failure to be Webcast LIVE

Cardiothoracic surgeons at Borgess Medical Center now perform a new procedure using an implant made from cow heart tissue for patients who have certain types of severe congestive heart failure (CHF). The new procedure, called surgical ventricular restoration (SVR), uses a patch made of cow heart tissue to repair an enlarged and poorly functioning left ventricle damaged by heart attacks. The soft and flexible oval-shaped patch is part of the CorRestore System made by Somanetics. Surgeons will present this procedure during a LIVE Webcast at 5:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, November 6 via http://webcast.borgess.com

Kalamazoo, Mich. (PRWEB) October 15, 2003 -- Cardiothoracic surgeons at Borgess Medical Center now perform a new procedure using an implant made from cow heart tissue for patients who have certain types of severe congestive heart failure (CHF).

The new procedure, called surgical ventricular restoration (SVR), uses a patch made of cow heart tissue to repair an enlarged and poorly functioning left ventricle damaged by heart attacks. The soft and flexible oval-shaped patch is part of the CorRestore System made by Somanetics.

Surgeons will present this procedure during a LIVE Webcast at 5:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, November 6 via http://webcast.borgess.com. Health care professionals are eligible for 1.0 CME in Category 1.

Alphonse DeLucia, MD; Michael Khaghany, MD; and George Mack, DO, of CardioThoracic Surgery, P.C., in Kalamazoo and surgeons with Borgess Medical Center will present the surgery, which was previously taped with Dr. DeLucia.

"Medication and cardiac-assist devices might alleviate symptoms of heart failure, but these treatments do not address the underlying cause of the disease, which is weakening and enlargement of the heart's main pumping chamber," said Dr. DeLucia. SVR with the CorRestore System® approaches CHF from the perspective of the hearts anatomy, reshaping the diseased heart, and thereby improving the performance of other organs and the patient's quality of life."

"Our group has consistently focused on new trends in cardiothoracic medicine and surgery, especially those toward treatment of patients with advanced heart disease and heart failure with high mortality. This new surgical ventricular restoration procedure illustrates our commitment to this state-of-the-art level of care that is available at Borgess," said Dr. Khaghnay.
CHF occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's demand for oxygen and other nutrients. This problem often results from the body's effort to compensate for heart muscle damage caused by a heart attack. To compensate for the damage, the heart gradually enlarges, eventually causing inefficient heart function and failure.

Nearly five million people in the United States have severe congestive heart failure, and more than 500,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. CHF and related causes result in about 250,000 deaths annually and is one of the most common reasons people older than 65 are admitted to hospitals' intensive care units.

Despite available therapies, the prognosis for patients with shortness of breath at rest and with minimal exertion is poor: nearly 40 percent of these patients die within 12 months following their initial hospital admission for heart failure. Lack of physical strength and stamina, shortness of breath, and fluid retention plague many of those who survive.

"Although heart transplantation is an option, there is a limited availability of donor hearts, and the sheer number of patients with heart failure is enormous," said Dr. Mack. Many of these patients can benefit from alternative treatments for heart failure. SVR with the CorRestore System offers patients the ability to return to a more active lifestyle."

During the open-heart surgery that will be presented during the LIVE Webcast, Dr. DeLucia opened the hearts ventricle, and implanted the oval-shaped patch. Immediately, the improved cardiac structure of the heart enabled it to function more efficiently. The soft and flexible patch is designed with a rigid inner ring and surrounded by a contoured outer rim to prevent leaking.

"A healthy ventricle is similar to a football in shape, while a damaged ventricle expands to resemble a round basketball. The patch helps to reshape the ventricle back to the football shape," said Dr. DeLucia.

The Borgess Heart Institute is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art facility that's dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart problems.
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