Some patients with heart failure keep having problems with fluid retention requiring admission to hospital for drugs which have to be given via the veins rather than via mouth. Avoiding these admissions is possible with regular readings of the pressures in the lungs using Cardiomems. This is a small implant which is inserted into the blood vessels supplying the lung. Lying on a Cardiomems pillow allows instant readings of the pressures in the lungs, and keeping these in a narrow range reduces the need for admission as the pressures rise 2 weeks before symptoms appear, so medications can be altered to pre-empt admission.
Cardiomems
A pressure monitor (A) that can be read using a pillow transmitted other the internet securely and viewed by the heart failure team (B). A picture of the pulmonary artery (C) before inserting the device (D)
Is cardiomems available on the NHS?
Although the device is approved and has been shown to decrease admissions to hospital for heart failure it is not commonly available in the NHS. However, our specialists at Wiltshire Cardiology have been involved in the COAST-HF study therefore we are experienced at implanting and using the device in our patients.