Heart Failure
The CRT-D, part automated defibrillator, part cardiac resynchronization device, reduced hospitalizations in milder cases. But issues including cost have some questioning how widely it should be used.
The results, reported online in the New England Journal of Medicine, were significantly better than preliminary results announced in June, when the trial was halted prematurely because of its success.
"This is a real breakthrough" for patients with mild to moderate heart disease, said Dr. Leslie Saxon, a cardiologist at USC's Keck School of Medicine, one of the study sites.
"The results are very encouraging, but we need to take them with a grain of salt," said Dr. Shephal K. Doshi, director of electrophysiology and pacing at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica. "No one receiving the devices lived longer."
An implantable device that shocks an erratically beating heart and works to keep both ventricles beating synchronously reduced hospitalizations for heart failure by 41%, according to results reported Tuesday at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
The results, reported online in the New England Journal of Medicine, were significantly better than preliminary results announced in June, when the trial was halted prematurely because of its success.
"This is a real breakthrough" for patients with mild to moderate heart disease, said Dr. Leslie Saxon, a cardiologist at USC's Keck School of Medicine, one of the study sites.
"The results are very encouraging, but we need to take them with a grain of salt," said Dr. Shephal K. Doshi, director of electrophysiology and pacing at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica. "No one receiving the devices lived longer."
Doug
CDIstaffing.com