Heart failure is diagnosed as a condition when the heart cannot pump enough blood throughout the body. Heart failure affects the left, right or sides of the heart (ventricles and atria). Most heart failure occurs on the left side of the heart, otherwise known as congestive heart failure (CHF). Afterwards, the blood does not evacuate properly from the left ventricle, leading to increased pressure in the atria (chambers of the heart) and the proximal veins (1+2). This prevents the shadowing of fluid in the lungs, which interrupts breathing, causing shortness of breath, especially when a person is lying down. Swelling also occurs in the ankles and legs or other parts of the body (3). In addition, patients experience fatigue. Finally preventing the kidney from avoid, salt and water retention. In the United, about five million people are diagnosed with heart failure, and 550,000 new cases every year. giving 300,000 to the dead every year (1+2). In the United States, it is estimated that heart failure care exceeds $28 billion annually, due to prolonged hospitalization and a high rate of readmissions ( 4). Most cases of congestive heart failure are common among elderly people or ten percent of the age of seventy. Less common effects 40 and 59 (two percent) years born. Major factors that contribute to heart disease or congestive heart failure include: Smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity, obesity, infection, toxic exposure (alcohol or cocaine), weakened heart muscle, poor x -ray can help diagnose congestive heart failure, fluid build-up in the lungs and heart dilation.
Conventional treatment for fluid retention in the lungs, liver and extremities, related to congestive heart failure: administering urine or water. pills (several types of diuretics are available) (6+7). The function of diuretics is to increase the flow of urine from the kidneys to the excretion of sodium and water ( 8 ). This improves the function of breathing (extinguishing water in the lungs) and the reduction of swelling in the lower body. However, urinary potassium levels can increase, requiring medical attention (9). Patients also experience extreme side effects (8). Unfortunately, diuretics may be ineffective in treating congestive heart failure for various reasons or for the “braking phenomenon”, including multiple organ failure (11). Also, Dr. Maria Rosa Costanzo, Heart Failure Specialist at Midwest Heart Specialists said: “Conventional diuretic treatments have frustrated doctors because of unpredictable outcomes and treatment times (10).
Aquapheresis or ultrafiltration is a new treatment technique for patients with congestive heart failure. The process removes moisture from the body. A blood catheter is inserted, and blood flows continuously through the filter. The filter draws out the liquid, and the blood is returned to the patient. Between ten and twelve hours of treatment more than one pound of fluid is removed. Later, ten or twenty pounds of fluid could be filtered or removed in one treatment. After one treatment, patients immediately feel better; the next six to eight weeks. During that time, medications can also include diuretics, which have previously proven ineffective for fluid control. Also, ultrafiltration therapy requires short hospitalization (11+12).
In March 2006, presented at the American College of Cardiology conference, EXODRA trial study involving two hundred patients in 28 hospitals and medical centers in United States using Aquapheresis therapy. These patients had significantly fewer follow-up visits in the hospital and lost more weight than patients treated with intravenous urine. . The results of the Unload study were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in late 2006. According to the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, the efficacy and treatment guidelines for ultrafiltration are recommended (4). Food and drug administration granted approval – days of rapid fluid removal – Aquapheresis therapy (11).
Privately held manufacturer of innovative medical devices for heart care CHF Solutions (based in Brooklyn Park, Minn.), developed Aquadex FlexFlow Fluid removal system aquapheresis therapy (13+4). It was reported in September 2007 that the first Florida hospital in Central Florida offered patients the Aquadex FlexFlow system to treat congestive heart failure (14).
1 – Diseases and Conditions Index (DCI) – Heart Failure
II – Impotence Online – Congestive heart failure
3 – Americanheart.org – Congestive Heart Failure
4 -genengnews.com – Cardiovascular Disease News – Five Studies of Aquapheresis (TM) Heart Failure Therapy Presented at the American Heart Association Annual Meeting – September 25, 2006
5 – New Therapy Helps Treat Heart Failure Effectively – May – July 2006 Issue – Mary Annee Papp, DO, FACC – Medical College of Wisconsin Cardiologist Director of the Heart Failure Clinic
6 – Wikipedia – diuretics
7 – Business Journal – Florida Hospital Offers New Treatment – September 14, 2007
8 – Diuretics – Donald E. Kohan, MD, Ph.D
9 – eMedicine Health – Congestive Heart Failure – Medications
10 – EurekAlert.com – Ultrafiltration device shown to be safe, effective and reduces hospital stays for heart failure patients – September 22, 2003
11 – Froedtert.com – May – July 2006 issue – Mary Annee Papp, DO, FACC – Medical College of Wisconsin Cardiologist Director of the Heart Failure Clinic
12 – Healthline.com – Aquapheresis: A New Treatment for Heart Failure (Part 2) Joshua Schwimmer, MD, FACP, FASN – June 9, 2007
13 – chfsolutions.com
14 – bizjournals.com – Florida Hospital Offers New Treatment – September 14, 2007
15 – emedicinehealth.com – Congestive Heart Failure Causes
16 – emedicinehealth.com – Congestive Heart Failure (cont.) – Exams and Tests.
