Saving Hearts

Reported April 2008

NEW ORLEANS, La. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Five million Americans suffer from congestive heart failure, a debilitating illness that can seriously compromise a patient's quality of life. And as the population ages, the number of people diagnosed with the disease is growing by eight percent each year. Now, as Ivanhoe reports, a new procedure is helping patients feel better and get their condition under control.

Recently, Ken Richard thought he was running out of time. Fluid overload was literally suffocating him. "I'd sit in an easy-chair and I'd press on my back and I couldn't breathe," Richard recalls. "I'd lay on the bed and I couldn't breathe. I'd walk 15 feet -- couldn't breathe."

The diagnosis -- congestive heart failure. Fluid builds up in the body, causing swelling and interfering with the heart's ability to function. "It was quite serious," Yvens Laborde, M.D., an internal medicine specialist at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, told Ivanhoe. "The main thing was he actually has a significant compromised cardiac function."

The diagnosis -- congestive heart failure. Fluid builds up in the body, causing swelling and interfering with the heart's ability to function. "It was quite serious," Yvens Laborde, M.D., an internal medicine specialist at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, told Ivanhoe. "The main thing was he actually has a significant compromised cardiac function."

"Oh, it makes an incredible amount of difference for a number of reasons," Dr. Laborde explains. "Number one, it's safe, it's very effective and it's predictable, and the amount of fluid that you remove, you can remove it very controllably."

Though this process used to be used only for patients with kidney disease, new studies have found it has a dramatic effect on patients with congestive heart failure and can be more effective than traditional treatment with diuretics.

In 38 hours, Aquadex removed 20 pounds of fluid from ken's body. "It reduces the amount of congestion and fluid retention and so what happens is it actually enables his heart function -- his cardiac function -- to improve," Dr. Laborde says. Now, ken is feeling like himself again … grateful to have his life back.

Congestive heart failure leads to more than three million hospitalizations every year in the United States, at a cost of more than 23 billion dollars. Doctors say this new procedure actually reduces the amount of time patients spend in the hospital and the chances they'll have to come back for further treatment.

Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:

Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank
Dr. Yvens Laborde, MD, Cardiologist
2500 Belle Chasse Highway
Gretna, LA
504-392-3131
http://www.ochsner.org

Satellites are unlocking the secrets of the sky, revealing how clouds are affecting global warming and why the Antarctic cloud covering is disappearing.

An exciting discovery in space: A new earth-like planet has been spotted developing 430 light years away. Could it support life?.

Congestive heart failure affects millions of Americans; but now, a new device is improving the quality of life of patients by helping them breathe easy.

It was once thought that when a stroke patient loses motor skills, they are gone for good; but a new 'video game' is helping patients continue on their road to recovery no matter how far out they are.

Is it just a pain in your leg or something deadly? A new tool is saving the lives of millions with a silent killer many don't even know they have.

Do you all of a sudden have acne as an adult? Is your hair falling out or turning gray? Relax! It could be a sign of stress, but help is on the way.

Every 40 seconds, computer hackers are using the internet to attack your computer. Learn how to protect your PC and your identity from cyber thieves.

Every year, there are six million accidents on America's roads; but virtual reality is helping to make our roads safer by finding out what happens when cars crash.

Every year, more than 350 construction workers die on the job -- many from falling. Now, 3-D simulators are saving lives by improving balance and coordination.

Cleaning up our Water: Chemicals could be polluting your drinking water and harming your health! Now, one young scientist is working on a way to clean up H20.

That saying 'Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus' might actually be true -- at least when it comes to stress. Scientists say the brains of stressed-out men and women react differently, and may result in unique responses.

Tired of waiting in lines at the airport? Waiting to check-in, waiting to board, waiting to exit the plane after it's landed? One airport is getting a little help from some six-legged friends to make your traveling easier.