This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35409261
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Balloon 'last chance treatment' for heart failure | Balloon 'last chance treatment' for heart failure |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Scientists have used a pioneering balloon technique as a "last chance" treatment to help a patient with severe heart failure. | Scientists have used a pioneering balloon technique as a "last chance" treatment to help a patient with severe heart failure. |
| Richard Reach, 59, had the balloon device implanted to close off a leaky heart valve, after he was told he was too unwell to have open heart surgery. | Richard Reach, 59, had the balloon device implanted to close off a leaky heart valve, after he was told he was too unwell to have open heart surgery. |
| Doctors at King's College Hospital say the procedure allowed him to improve enough to have more permanent surgery. | Doctors at King's College Hospital say the procedure allowed him to improve enough to have more permanent surgery. |
| With further trials, the device could help thousands more patients, they say. | With further trials, the device could help thousands more patients, they say. |
| Special permission | Special permission |
| Mr Reach, a builder from Kent, suffered severe heart failure after a heart attack - leaving him extremely unwell and short of breath. | Mr Reach, a builder from Kent, suffered severe heart failure after a heart attack - leaving him extremely unwell and short of breath. |
| The damage to his heart meant one of his heart valves no longer worked properly, creating a backflow of blood and putting extra strain on his heart. | The damage to his heart meant one of his heart valves no longer worked properly, creating a backflow of blood and putting extra strain on his heart. |
| But when conventional treatment was deemed too high a risk, doctors decided to ask UK regulators for permission to try the new Mitra-Spacer device on compassionate grounds. | But when conventional treatment was deemed too high a risk, doctors decided to ask UK regulators for permission to try the new Mitra-Spacer device on compassionate grounds. |
| Made in the United States, by company Cardiosolutions, it had previously been tested in pigs. | |
| Mr Reach had the device implanted in June 2015 and was allowed home just a few days later. | Mr Reach had the device implanted in June 2015 and was allowed home just a few days later. |
| How it works | How it works |
| Five months later, Mr Reach's heart had recovered enough for surgeons to carry out a conventional operation to repair the valve. | Five months later, Mr Reach's heart had recovered enough for surgeons to carry out a conventional operation to repair the valve. |
| Mr Reach said: "Just as it seemed the medical team had run out of options Prof Wendler suggested the new treatment. | Mr Reach said: "Just as it seemed the medical team had run out of options Prof Wendler suggested the new treatment. |
| "Now I'm walking around and feeling better each day. What the team has done for me is nothing short of a miracle. | "Now I'm walking around and feeling better each day. What the team has done for me is nothing short of a miracle. |
| "I owe my life to them." | "I owe my life to them." |
| Prof Wendler, head of the surgical team that carried out the operation, believes the device could replace open heart surgery for some patients with damaged heart valves. | Prof Wendler, head of the surgical team that carried out the operation, believes the device could replace open heart surgery for some patients with damaged heart valves. |
| He said: "You always have concerns about doing first-in-man procedures but the most important thing is to make sure we carry on and do proper studies." | He said: "You always have concerns about doing first-in-man procedures but the most important thing is to make sure we carry on and do proper studies." |
| He will now be involved in large-scale international trials. | He will now be involved in large-scale international trials. |
| Prof Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said the approach was imaginative and relatively simple. | Prof Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said the approach was imaginative and relatively simple. |
| He added: "By using an adjustable balloon to reduce the amount of blood leaking across the valve, this techniques gives the heart a chance to recover sufficiently to withstand conventional valve surgery. | He added: "By using an adjustable balloon to reduce the amount of blood leaking across the valve, this techniques gives the heart a chance to recover sufficiently to withstand conventional valve surgery. |
| "It allows the surgeon to buy time and should also alleviate some of the patient's symptoms. | "It allows the surgeon to buy time and should also alleviate some of the patient's symptoms. |
| "Further research is now needed to establish which patients are most likely to benefit from it." | "Further research is now needed to establish which patients are most likely to benefit from it." |
| Heart failure affects around 1.5% of the UK population. Prof Wendler estimates some 5%-10% of patients have severe heart failure involving their heart valves and could benefit from this type of procedure. | Heart failure affects around 1.5% of the UK population. Prof Wendler estimates some 5%-10% of patients have severe heart failure involving their heart valves and could benefit from this type of procedure. |