New device helps heart patients
Five million Americans suffer debilitating, even deadly heart failure.
Recently the FDA approved a new device that could buy the most critical patients more time while they wait for a heart transplant.
This technology may have even broader implications for patients who are out of options. Bob Dewitt says doctors took one look at his heart and gave him a death sentance.
"They didn't think I'd live for another six to twelve hours."
He had end stage heart failure and needed a heart transplant, but time was running out.
"My left side wasn't pumping and I was just completely dying."
"We've been very limited in how to treat people effectively with congestive heart failure -- how to extend their lives."
Dr. Cedric Sheffield offered something different.
As part of clinical trial, doctors implanted the heartmate two... a ventricular assistive device.
It combines an internal pump with an external computer desiginged to do the work Bob's failing heart couldn't.
"It's pumping the blood to all of the organs and that decreases the stress on the heart."
The device serves as a bridge for people waiting for a transplant.
It's also being tested as a last resort for people who are too sick to have a transplant.
"That is, I think, the holy grail of this entire field -- to have an engineering solution, a mechanical circulatory support, that is equal to or better than heart transplantation for a very large population."
More than a year after doctors implanted the device, Bob is back at work, feeling better than he has in years.
"There's no actual sensation of any kind. There's absolutely nothing that I can tell that it's in there."
It's desinged to last up to ten years and Bob is grateful for every moment.
According to the National Institutes of Health, congestive heart failure causes 300 - thousands deaths every year.
Doctors say it's one of the most expensive conditions to treat.
Recently the FDA approved a new device that could buy the most critical patients more time while they wait for a heart transplant.
This technology may have even broader implications for patients who are out of options. Bob Dewitt says doctors took one look at his heart and gave him a death sentance.
"They didn't think I'd live for another six to twelve hours."
He had end stage heart failure and needed a heart transplant, but time was running out.
"My left side wasn't pumping and I was just completely dying."
"We've been very limited in how to treat people effectively with congestive heart failure -- how to extend their lives."
Dr. Cedric Sheffield offered something different.
As part of clinical trial, doctors implanted the heartmate two... a ventricular assistive device.
It combines an internal pump with an external computer desiginged to do the work Bob's failing heart couldn't.
"It's pumping the blood to all of the organs and that decreases the stress on the heart."
The device serves as a bridge for people waiting for a transplant.
It's also being tested as a last resort for people who are too sick to have a transplant.
"That is, I think, the holy grail of this entire field -- to have an engineering solution, a mechanical circulatory support, that is equal to or better than heart transplantation for a very large population."
More than a year after doctors implanted the device, Bob is back at work, feeling better than he has in years.
"There's no actual sensation of any kind. There's absolutely nothing that I can tell that it's in there."
It's desinged to last up to ten years and Bob is grateful for every moment.
According to the National Institutes of Health, congestive heart failure causes 300 - thousands deaths every year.
Doctors say it's one of the most expensive conditions to treat.
