Heart Patch Designed to Combat CHF

A patch made of bovine pericardium is designed for use in surgical ventricular restoration, an operation for severe congestive heart failure (CHF).

Despite available therapies such as drugs and cardiac-assist devices, CHF patients suffer from a number of problems and are often admitted to the hospital. About 30-40% will die within 12 months after their initial admission for heart failure. Now, a three-year study of the surgical ventricular restoration procedure shows it is an effective treatment, with a three-year survival rate of 89%.

During the operation, the surgeon opens the ventricle and excludes the scarred, noncontracting segments of the heart, most commonly by inserting an implant, such as the new patch, called CorRestore. The restored heart is immediately able to function more efficiently. CorRestore offers features that make the procedure quicker and easier for the medical team to perform than other patch materials. For example, a safety-enhancing suture ring helps provide a seal that minimizes the leakage of blood around the heart during the operation. The new patch is the product of Somanetics Corp. (Troy, MI, USA).

"What makes the CorRestore patch so exciting is that surgeons can use it to treat CHF, rather than just its symptoms,” says Ali Kafi, M.D., chief of cardiovascular surgery at St. John Hospital and Medical Center (Detroit, MI, USA). "As a result, patients are able to manage their CHF better, which reduces their chances of repeated hospitalizations for the condition in the future.”




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