Purdue News
Purdue News
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Septemper 1991 Doctors use muscle power to treat heart diseaseHeart-pumping brearthrough: A select group of U.S. doctors is using a new approach -- called cardiomyoplasty -- to treat patients with congestive heart failure, in which weakened heart muscles don't pump efficiently. How it works: Instead of a transplant or artificial heart, some of the patient's own muscle -- taken from the back area -- is wrapped around the heart to strengthen or assist the failing pumping chambers. 5 Centers approved for testing: The technique has been used successfully in humans, including a group of U.S. citizens who participated in early trials at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. This summer, the Food and Drug Administration approved five U.S. medical centers to perform a limited number of the procedures. International Conference in September at Purdue: Researchers from around the world will discuss progress in cardiomyoplasty and other related research efforts during Purdue's second international Conference on Cardiac Assistance with Skeletal Muscle, Sept. 3O - Oct. 1 on Purdue University's West Lafayette, Ind., campus. Research focuses on two techniques: Cardiomyoplasty: The muscle is wrapped directly around the heart. The skeletal muscle is then trained, over a period of six to eight weeks, to contract simultaneously with the heart's contractions. This method is being used in clinical trials around the world, including five medical institutions in the United States. Assist Ventricle: Skeletal muscle, taken from the back or abdomen, is shaped into a pouch and attached to the aorta. Blood pumps from the heart into this pouch. During the heart's resting phase, the pouch contracts and pumps the blood again, sending it throughout the patient's system. Theoretically, an assist ventricle could reduce the workload of the heart by 30-40 percent. Researchers worldwide are testing different types of assist ventricles in animals. The benefits: Because the patient is his own donor, tissue rejection is eliminated, as are the limitations inherent in the use of any mechanical device. In addition, the procedure could be used to save the lives of patients for whom donor hearts are not available Key U.S. ResearchersDr. Stephen F. Badylak, Hillenbrand Biomedical Engineering Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. Phone: 317-494-2995. Purdue researchers have developed a prototype pacemaker that is used to stimulate skeletal muscle wrapped around the heart. Tests are under way on animal models. The group is also experimenting with ways to use other biological materials -- such as small intestine -- to create an assist pouch. The lining made from intestine is strong and helps eliminate the problems of clot formation and other complications caused by synthetic materials. Mike Colson, director, Cardiac-Assist Systems, Medtronics, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., 612-785-6610. Coordinator of human clinical trials under way in five U.S. medical institutions. Medtronics, Inc., controls the only FDA-approved pacemaker developed to work with skeletal muscle. Dr. James Magovern, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa. Phone: 412-323-0363. Assisted his father, Dr. George Magovern, in doing the first cardiomyoplasty procedures in the United States. Recently received approval from the FDA to perform 10 more procedures. Clinical and laboratory studies under way to look at the different ways of wrapping the muscle around the heart to receive maximum benefits. Dr. Larry Stephenson, Harper Hospital, Detroit, Mich. Phone: 313-745-1413. Helped pioneer techniques to create assist ventricles. Has done numerous animal experiments using this technique. Dr. James Sink, Philadelphia Heart Institute, Philadelphia, Pa. Phone: 215-662-9167. Recently received approval from the FDA to perform 10 cardiomyoplasty procedures. Scheduled to perform first procedure Sept. 18. Clinical and laboratory studies aimed at optimizing ways to train the skeletal muscle to behave like heart muscle. Also studying the effects of cardiomyoplasty on ischemic heart disease, a condition marked by a deficiency of blood supply to the heart muscle. Centers with FDA approval for cardiomyoplastyAllegheny General Hospital Dr. Sink The Cleveland Clinic Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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