The American Heart Association reports, "An estimated 5.7 million Americans are living with heart failure, and 670,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.” A heart failure diagnosis is certainly not a death sentence, it simply means that the heart fails to meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen because it cannot pump efficiently. It is a chronic condition that occurs and progresses over a period of time. Eventually the heart does wear out, but progression varies from person-to-person and is tied to the time taken to diagnosis, the treatment rendered and the nature of the heart condition itself.
Congestive heart failure and hospitalization
CHF is one of the many conditions collectively gathered beneath the umbrella collectively called heart failure. One of the more advanced symptoms of CHF and other heart failures, is an overload of fluid called edema. This excess fluid and salt accumulates in the lungs, liver and extremities placing stress on the vital organs, particularly the lungs which become “congested.” Called pulmonary edema, the lungs become less efficient at taking in oxygen, leading to shortness of breath and hospitalization.
In Dec. 2009 EMS Professional, reported in "Baptist Cardiovascular Services Introduces New Technology for Congestive Heart Failure Treatment," how "The estimated burden of heart failure care is in excess of $28 billion in the United States." Hospitals actually lose money on a case-by-case basis they add, "due to prolonged hospitalization and high readmission rates."
Aquapheresis Therapy ™ or Ultrafiltration Therapy
Now new technology, known as Aquapheresis™ Therapy or ultrafiltration therapy, has been introduced to aid sufferers of CHF which may actually help ease not only the economic burden placed upon the country, but the strain a long hospitalization inevitably puts on a patient and his family.
The procedure itself is similar to dialysis and is intended for those patients who have had little success with diuretics and other medicines. A patient's blood is cycled through a circuit filter which removes excess water and salt and then returns the blood back to the body. The treatment which takes from 24-36 hours, allows patients to breathe easier far quicker and go home much sooner.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in January 2008, began a study into the, "Effectiveness of Ultrafiltration in Treating People With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure and Cardiorenal Syndrome (The CARRESS Study)." Verified by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the study is actively recruiting participants. Results will be available after the study has been completed and will hopefully enhance previous studies to date.
Studies already undertaken and completed are UNLOAD, EUPHORIA, RAPID and SAFE. Each of them studied different aspects of the treatment and have shown positive results. Medical facilities appear to have established confidence in this new therapy and are actively offering Aquapheresis™ therapy to patients.
Sources:
Costanzo et. al. UNLOAD Study J Am Coll Cardiol 2007;49:675–683
Costanzo et. al. EUPHORIA Study J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;46(11):2047-2051
Bart et. al. RAPID Study J Am Coll Cardiol 2005; 46(11):2043-2046
Jaski et. al. SAFE Study Journal of Cardiac Failure 2003 9(3);227-231
Elizabeth Batt - Elizabeth Batt is a former large animal nurse, certified NREMT, lover of equines and conservationist.
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