News Seton Heart Institute Performs Life-Saving, Minimally Invasive Cardiac Procedure

First Cutting-Edge Treatment in Central Texas Using World's Smallest Heart Pump

AUSTIN, TX - (July 15, 2010) - The Seton Heart Institute and Seton Medical Center Austin (SMCA), a member of the Seton Family of Hospitals, are the first in Central Texas to treat critically ill patients with the world's smallest heart pump, the Impella 2.5.

Dr. Matthew Rogers, an interventional cardiologist with the Seton Heart Institute successfully completed the first procedure in Central Texas using the new heart pump in January 2009 and has since performed more than six cases with 100 percent procedural success.

Helping to quickly stabilize patients with severely diseased and weakened hearts or blocked arteries, the device allows physicians to treat those who may otherwise not survive. The catheter-based heart pump temporarily relieves the heart's pumping function and provides time to initiate life-saving interventions.

"A healthy heart pumps blood at a capacity of 50 to 65 percent," added Dr. Rogers. "Due to narrowing of the arteries, one of my recent patients had a capacity that dropped to five percent and standards of care typically don't support surgery on a patient at this rate. Using the Impella, I was able to stabilize the patient and then successfully open the arteries using stents."

The procedure is performed in the cath lab and the Impella is inserted into the left ventricle of the heart via the femoral artery. Up to two and a half liters of blood are delivered by the pump from the left ventricle into the ascending aorta, providing the heart with active support five times faster than current industry devices and three to five times more blood flow than the present standard of care.

"This minimally invasive approach in cardiac treatment will help change the industry standard of care," Dr. Rogers added. "The ability to perform life-saving cardiovascular procedures in a matter of minutes results in immediate circulatory support for critical patients."

Since receiving clearance by the Food and Drug Administration in 2008, more than 1,600 patients in the United States have been treated with the new pump.

"SMCA is committed to optimal heart recovery. We are pleased to offer this technology to our patients and remain committed to our leadership position in cardiac care in Central Texas," said John Brindley, president and chief executive officer, SMCA.