Fri Sep 03 2010
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South resident is the first to receive benefit of world's smallest heart pump
June 3, 2009
"I wouldn't be talking with you right now if this exact procedure was not available the day I needed it," said 84-year-old William Snyder, who was Aultman's first patient to reap the benefits of this new technology. "Everyone was so ecstatic - from my family to the nurses and doctor. I heard they were 'walking on air.'"
The Snyder family can attest to that, since the Canton South resident has been through so much while suffering from congestive heart failure.
Aultman Heart Center is now offering high-risk patients a new option to treat cardiac disease. This month, Aultman cardiologists successfully cleared blocked arteries of three critically-ill patients by using the Impella Circulatory Assist Device, which was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2008.
This is the only hospital in Northeast Ohio to offer the Impella, which was developed by Abiomed, a Danvers, Mass.-based medical device company. Aultman is one of about 150 hospitals nationwide that have adopted the technology.
As the smallest heart pump on the market, the device gives Aultman cardiologists a better treatment option for patients experiencing advanced cardiac failure or shock in recovering from heart attack or other insult/injury.
"These patients typically don't have adequate blood flow for us to perform life-saving angioplasty, said Dr. John Paulowski, medical director of the Aultman Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
"Our team can now perform cutting-edge, life-saving cardiovascular procedures in a matter of minutes," said Dr. Paulowski. "Impella is a breakthrough technology that offers our physicians a minimally invasive approach in cardiac treatment and will help change the industry standard of care in the cath lab with its seamless and immediate circulatory support for critical patients."
"I have so much confidence and admiration for Dr. Paulowski and the Aultman team that I would never leave town for care," said Snyder, who is recovering from receiving a defibrillator and pacemaker too.
"I need to build my strength back up from being inactive for so long, but am thankful for the opportunity to do so. I'm looking forward to being myself again."
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