First Barostim Implant Procedure Successful at Ralph H. Johnson VA HCS
A Surgeon at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System in Charleston, South Carolina, recently completed its first Barostim implant, a groundbreaking new heart procedure that is helping Veterans with heart failure live longer and healthier lives.
This was the first implant of its kind to be used in any in VA in the southeastern U.S.
On Oct. 24, 2023, Dr. Jean Ruddy, Ralph H. Johnson VA HCS attending physician, implanted the Barostim device. Barostim implant therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that involves placing a small device under the skin of the chest that sends electrical signals to the carotid artery in the neck. These signals stimulate the baroreceptors, which are pressure sensors that send information to the brain about blood pressure and heart rate. The brain then responds by lowering blood pressure and heart rate.
Barostim implant therapy is a new and promising treatment for heart failure. It is a minimally invasive procedure that has been shown to be very effective in reducing heart failure symptoms, improving quality of life, and reducing the risk of death and hospitalization. Barostim won a breakthrough device approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019 following successful trials.
In reports by CVRx, the company responsible for creating the Barostim system, they found patients who received Barostim implant therapy had a 20% increase in exercise capacity. Although the device can’t reverse heart failure, it can improve patients’ quality of life. It’s intended for patients who are in that middle ground of not getting sufficient benefit from medication but not sick enough for a heart pump or heart transplant.
Heart failure is a chronic condition that occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It is a leading cause of death and hospitalization in the United States, and it affects millions of Veterans.