BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. CHD is caused by a narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart, and often results in a heart attack. Each year, more than 1 million Americans suffer a heart attack. A heart attack occurs after years of plaque and fatty substance build-up inside of the walls of the arteries. The build-up can break open and lead to the formation of a blood clot that seals the break. The clot reduces blood flow. The cycle of fatty build-up, plaque rupture, and blood clot formation causes the coronary arteries to narrow, reducing blood flow. If a blood clot suddenly cuts off most or all blood supply to the heart, a heart attack results.

WARNING SIGNS: Heart attack warning signs include:

Chest discomfort: Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body: This may include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

Shortness of breath: This often accompanies chest discomfort but may occur prior to the onset of chest discomfort.

Other symptoms: Cold sweats, nausea, or light-headedness.

TREATMENTS: Treatments for a heart attack work to open the blocked artery to restore blood flow as fast as possible to prevent or limit damage to the heart muscle and to lessen the chance of a repeat attack. The main treatments are thrombolytic therapy -- a "clot-busting" method -- medications, and special procedures, such as angioplasty and coronary artery bypass surgery. To be most effective, these treatments must be given within one hour of the start of heart attack symptoms. However, these treatments may not be an option after suffering a severely damaging heart attack or if the heart is too frail to undergo major procedures.

THE TANDEMHEART: According to Raj Makkar, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical in Los Angeles, a new ventricular device is proving to be "lifesaving" for those with damaged hearts or those with weak hearts who must undergo high-risk procedures. Dr. Makkar says, "We know that it saves lives and makes procedures safe." The device is guided through the blood vessels and placed in the heart's left atrium. It remains attached by thin tubes that are connected to a pump outside of the body. It works to divert blood, reducing the workload of the pumping chamber. "It has also been used to help with the function of the right ventricle which is the right lower chamber of the heart," Dr. Makkar says. The TandemHeart takes over approximately 85 percent of the heart's total pumping function. The device is FDA approved for short-term use and is not intended to take the pace of surgically implanted ventricular assist devices.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
8700 Beverly Blvd.
Division of Cardiology
Los Angeles, CA 90048
1-800-233-2771
sandy@prpacific.com
http://www.cedars-sinai.edu