Medical City Heart Hospital first in region to use new heart pump

Dallas, Texas — A surgical team at Medical City Heart Hospital recently became the first in North Texas to implant a new type of minimally-invasive heart pump to treat cardiogenic shock, a life-threatening condition in which the heart suddenly can’t send enough oxygenated blood to the brain and other vital organs.

The new heart pump is one of the smallest on the market, about the size of a pencil. It helps the right ventricle circulate blood to the lungs where it becomes oxygenated and pumped to the rest of the body by the left ventricle. Patients who received the device had significantly higher survival rates — especially those within 48 hours of developing cardiogenic shock, according to data published in The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation.

“The device provides critical support for patients who are suffering from acute right heart failure. It allows the heart to rest and recover, which improves long-term survival,” says J.C. MacHannaford, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon and medical director for heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Medical City Heart Hospital. He was the first surgeon in the region to treat a patient with the device. “Providing this innovative technology demonstrates the high level of cardiovascular care and advanced heart failure therapies we’re providing patients with complex medical issues.”

The pump is placed in the heart by a catheter inserted through a small incision in the neck. Because of its size and the minimally invasive technique to implant it, patients are able to sit up in bed within hours of surgery and walk in the intensive care unit while recovering. The patient treated at Medical City Heart Hospital was weaned off it after just three days, once their condition significantly improved.

The pump does not require blood to be oxygenated by a machine outside the body — as does more intensive life support therapies — when both the heart and lungs are not functioning.

Common symptoms of cardiogenic shock include:

• Severe shortness of breath
• Fast breathing
• Chest pain or pressure
• Lightheadedness

Learn more about advanced heart failure prevention and treatment options at Medical City Heart Hospital.