The Heart of It All

In May of 2006, heart failure patient Linda Helmes and her family received devastating news from her doctors: it was time to call in hospice.

Almost four years later, Linda is playing Wii and throwing around a football with her grandson, thanks to cutting-edge technology available at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

Lindas battle with breast cancer began in 2003, when she underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy to aggressively treat the disease. When the cancer reoccurred in 2005, radiation and chemotherapy successfully eliminated the cancer—but it also caused Linda to go into heart failure.

Lindas medications failed to improve her condition, and her cancer history prevented her from being eligible for a heart transplant. The doctors told Lindas family that nothing more could be done.

At the time, I didnt realize the severity of my heart failure, says Linda. But there was never a time that I believed I was going home to die. My family was there for me and we didnt give up.

Lindas determination encouraged her doctors to look into experimental treatment options. They discovered that The Ohio State University Heart and Vascular Center was participating in a clinical trial for the HeartMate II® Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS). The HeartMate II LVAS offers a long-term treatment option to advanced heart failure patients like Linda who do not qualify for heart transplants.

Ohio States team of cardiovascular surgeons implanted Lindas HeartMate II in June 2006. With only one moving part, the device is designed to take over the pumping ability of the weakened hearts left ventricle. Linda also wears an external system that includes a battery-operated controller.

Ive had my HeartMate II for almost four years, and its great, says Linda. I do everything I want to do—I can even bowl and walk my dog.

Ohio States Heart and Vascular Center is one of the select cardiac centers in the nation to offer this state-of-the-art therapy to patients like Linda. The HeartMate II received FDA approval as a long-term treatment option for advanced-stage heart failure in early 2010.

While Linda will be cancer-free for five years this December and possibly eligible for a heart transplant, she has no plans to part with her HeartMate II.

Why mess with something that is working great for me? asks Linda. I wouldnt be here today if it werent for this machine. This thing is amazing.

For more information:
http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare_services/heart/about_hear...

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Ross
• heart
• LVAD
• cardiovascular
• attack
• disease
• LVAS