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Heart and Vascular Center
Heart FailureHeart failure develops when the heart becomes weakened after an injury, such as a heart attack, high blood pressure, age, or toxins (drugs, alcohol or viral infection). Heart failure, which may occur gradually or suddenly, is a serious condition without a cure. Nearly 5 million Americans are living with heart failure, and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
Heart “failure” means the heart is not pumping effectively enough to meet the body’s needs for oxygen-rich blood. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the state in which decreased heart function is accompanied by a buildup of fluid in the lungs and elsewhere in the body. Heart failure may be reversible, and people may live for many years after diagnosis.
Treatment provided by Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin is aimed at helping people with heart failure live a full life.
Treatment for EdemaOften, a person with heart failure may have a buildup of fluid in the tissues, called edema. Heart failure edema is called congestive heart failure. Traditional treatment for heart failure patients with edema has involved the use of diuretics (drugs that increase the excretion of water from the body). Over time, however, diuretics become ineffective, and continued use can cause more swelling.
Heart failure patients with edema (or other patients with other conditions that involve swelling in the legs and abdomen) may benefit from Aquapheresis™, a filtration system that removes fluid in patients for whom diuretics have stopped working. The system removes extra salt and water from the blood and body — up to 12 liters of excess fluid in 24 hours or up to 30 liters in 48 hours. Fluid loss is sustained for at least eight weeks. Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin are among only two centers in this region with this technology.
The system connects to the patient’s bloodstream through catheters inserted into peripheral or central veins. Blood is run through a special filter and then returned through another vein. The clinician specifies the amount of fluid to be removed from each patient. In addition to improving breathing and other symptoms, the process allows many patients to resume their cardiac exercise and rehabilitation programs as well as normal activities.
Surgery for Heart FailureSurgery is an option for some patients in heart failure. Surgery is aimed at stopping further damage to the heart and improving the heart’s function.
Coronary bypass surgeryPerformed for heart failure caused by coronary artery disease. This is considered high-risk bypass surgery.
Mitral valve annuloplastySurgery to repair the annulus, the fibrous tissue at the base of the mitral valve. When the annulus becomes enlarged, blood can back up into the atrium. This can be repaired by making the valve opening smaller with an artificial “ring” that is implanted to provide support for the valve and restore its shape.
Ventricular remodelingOpen-heart surgery that involves removing areas of dead heart tissue and reshaping the heart to help it work better with the aim of preventing the progression of heart failure.
Implantable ventricular assist devicesThe Ventricular Assist Device Program offers mechanical support (an artificial heart) to help people with severe heart failure who are awaiting a heart transplant. A mechanical device is implanted in patients as a bridge to a transplant, allowing them to return home while they wait — sometimes for several months — for a donor heart. For people with heart failure who are not candidates for a transplant, mechanical support may be used as a permanent means of support (called “destination therapy”).
Heart transplantationFor patients with severe heart failure that cannot be controlled by other means and who are likely to die within two years from heart failure.
Heart Failure ResearchFroedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin are involved in telehealth research studies, which involve monitoring people with heart failure in their homes. Telehealth uses electronic information and telecommunications technology to support long-distance clinical health care.
The telehealth studies include:
- Monitoring patients at home (via their pacemaker) to manage heart failure. Information obtained from the pacemaker is used to quickly identify issues and respond to changes by changing a patient’s medications in response to changing medical needs.
- Working with Marquette University College of Nursing to monitor people with heart failure during exercise.
- Medical College of Wisconsin surgeons are also conducting research to examine the mechanisms and causes of heart failure.
Last Review Date: June 18, 2008 Online Editor(s): Richard Petre |
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