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This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about research into heart disease. When the heart muscle weakens to the point it can no longer keep the blood flowing properly through the body, implanted devices or, in the most severe cases, a heart transplant, may be the only hope. But now doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center are among those testing a new device that helps pump a patient’s blood.
Dr. Tayo Addo, a UT Southwestern cardiologist, says the device can help stabilize patients who have challenging health issues. The device can be inserted under local anesthesia, so it provides an alternative to more invasive surgeries. Doctors believe this technology will offer another option for patients when traditional therapies aren’t working, or provide a stopgap to keep organs functioning until other treatments can work.
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November 2007
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