Non-Surgical Procedure At St. Joseph's Hospital Can Check Patients Heart Rate At Home

BLOOMINGDALE — RIVERVIEW, FL — St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is performing an innovative, non-surgical procedure that can monitor patients’ pulmonary artery pressure and heart rate outside of the hospital, a hospital news release said.

The Way The Procedure Works, According To St. Joseph's Hospital-South

CardioMEMS™ Heart Failure System is a small, FDA-approved, wireless monitoring sensor that is implanted in the pulmonary artery, medical officials said. The pulmonary artery moves blood from the heart to the lungs. The sensor measures lung pressure that increases when the heart becomes too weak and stiff to pump blood effectively and can often detect irregularities before symptoms emerge or are experienced by the patient.

Patients can take daily sensor readings at home by lying on a special pillow and pressing a button on a home electronics unit. Data readings are then transmitted wirelessly and securely to your heart failure team. The data readings take a few minutes and there is no pain or sensations during the readings, St. Joseph's Hospital-South said. Implantation of the CardioMEMS does not interfere with a patient’s daily activities or other implanted devices such as a pacemaker or defibrillator, according to medical workers.

By detecting deviations in pulmonary artery pressure before symptoms occur, the heart failure team can determine if further action is needed by managing medications or devising other treatment options. CardioMEMS has shown to be effective in reducing heart failure hospital admissions and readmissions.

The sensor is designed to last the lifetime of the patient and does not need leads, batteries or replacement parts. The sensor is about the size of a paper clip or coin.

“St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is utilizing the newest and best medical technology in the cardiovascular space to serve our community with the highest level of care,” Dr. Christopher Bucciarelli, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South’s chief medical officer, said.

Learn more about heart and vascular services at St. Joseph’s Hospital-South: https://baycare.org/hospitals/st-josephs-hospital-south/services/heart-and-vascular.