Memorial Satilla Health has announced the recent addition of a new procedure to assist patients at the hospital’s Heart Center services.
Interventional cardiologists, Dr. Timothy Catchings and Dr. Eduardo Venegas, can now insert the Impella heart pump into patients whose hearts need a chance to rest and recover.
“Impella is a crucial tool in our arsenal, acting as a vital temporary aid for hearts that need a moment to rest and recover,” said Dr. Venegas. “This will give a struggling heart a fighting chance to heal, to regain its natural strength and to allow patients to return to a fulfilling life.”
Impella pumps can increase survival rates to 70-80 percent when used effectively.
'We are continually seeking the most advanced and effective ways to care for our patients. I am proud of this enhancement to our cardiovascular services,” said Dr. Catchings.
This tiny heart pump is an effective treatment for a severe form of heart failure called cardiogenic shock, and is used for some heart catheterization procedures as well. The pump is typically inserted through the large femoral artery in the groin and ultimately rests across the heart’s aortic valve with an inlet on one side and an outlet on the other. A small motor powers a propeller that pulls blood from the left ventricle of a patient and supplies all the vital organs until the heart has recovered and the device can be removed.
