OakBend Medical Center First to Offer New Device to Predict Worsening Heart Failure


Dr. Siddharth Mukerji and Dr. Mayank Parikh.

New technology in implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) is now available at OakBend Medical Center.

Dr. Siddharth Mukerji of EP Heart implanted the first Resonate™ ICD designed to not only shock a patient out of a life-threatening rhythm but also give physicians important information to potentially reduce heart failure readmissions.  Developed by Boston Scientific and validated by the MultiSENSE study, the Resonate ICD includes HeartLogic™ Heart Failure Diagnostic, which was shown to have a 70% sensitivity in detecting a potential heart failure exacerbation with an average of 34-day advance notice. HeartLogic™ combines data from five physiological sensors evaluating heart sounds, heart rate, respiration, activity levels and thoracic impedance collected through the implantable device into a composite index of the patient’s risk of an approaching heart failure event.

According to Dr. Mukerji, “This device, in addition to the regular pacing and defibrillation capabilities it also has this physiologic module where based on certain parameters we can predict, if you will, the onset of heart failure. That is really important because we can catch it in time, we can treat it in time and prevent admissions and hospitalization for heart failure exacerbation. I think the key with this device is the way it is programed and the features it uses. I don’t think any other devise offers this and I think OakBend is fortunate that they chose this modality of therapy for their patients, I think they will be better served overall.”

“This will cut down readmission rate because it is capable of predicting congestive heart failure (CHF) or heart failure early with the monitoring system. With the high readmission rate of patients with CHF, this is a good alternative that will hopefully cut down on readmission rates,” added Dr. Mayank Parikh, Cardiologist, whose patient was the first patient in Fort Bend County to have the implant.

If the ICD were to go off, the cardiologist would receive an alert. Depending on the alert, it can mean that the patient will need to go to the hospital or that the device will be monitored for a period of time. The physician will call the patient, and will explain that he received and alert and speak to the patient to determine the next step. While there is no age requirement before the device will be implanted, it will be used for patients that need a defibrillator and have CHF.

OakBend Medical Center was the first to sign the contract for this new device. “The HeartLogic Diagnostic provides physicians the ability to pivot from reactive heart failure treatment to proactive care with a goal of improving patient outcomes and reducing heart failure-related hospitalizations,” Kenneth Stein, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, Rhythm Management and Global Health Policy, Boston Scientific, said in a statement announcing FDA approval of the device. “We believe the new features included in this family of devices offer physicians an unprecedented level of confidence when caring for patients with heart failure.”

For more information about OakBend Medical Center, visit www.oakbendmedcenter.org.