Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Implants Its First Neuromodulation Device to Treat Symptoms of Heart Failure

Pictured left to right is Catherine Kasian ("Beth"), NP, Advanced Heart Failure Specialists Cardiology Lakewood; Justin Fox, MD, Cardiologist, Chair of the Department of Cardiology, Medical Staff Leadership, RWJUH Hamilton; Honesto Poblete, MD, vascular surgeon, Chair of the Department of Surgery, Medical Staff Leadership, RWJUH Hamilton, and member of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group; Kulpreet Barn, MD, Cardiology/Advanced Heart Failure, RWJBarnabas Health, member of RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group; and Kristoffer Arellano, APN, Advanced Heart Failure Specialists Cardiology Hamilton.

Hamilton, NJ - Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, has introduced a new therapy for heart failure patients who are not responding to treatment with medication alone. The Barostim implant, an innovative device that uses the body's own reflexes to improve cardiovascular function, regulates blood flow in people with heart failure. It is the world's first FDA-approved heart failure device to use neuromodulation - the power of the brain and nervous system - to improve the symptoms of patients with systolic heart failure.

Vascular surgeon Honesto ("Sto") Poblete, MD, recently implanted the hospital's first device in a patient with a history of heart failure. Unlike other heart failure device therapies, the Barostim implant contains no hardware in the heart or vasculature and works by electrically stimulating baroreceptors - natural sensors located in the wall of the carotid artery - that tell the nervous system how to regulate heart, kidney and vascular function. These effects reduce the heart's workload and help it pump more efficiently, helping to restore balance to the autonomic nervous system and improve the symptoms of heart failure.

"The implant, along with heart failure medications, improves the quality of life for our patients and helps them return to their daily activities," said Seth Rosenbaum, MMM, MD, Senior Vice President and the hospital's Chief Medical Officer. "RWJUH Hamilton, along with RWJBarnabas Health's Heart and Vascular program, offers the most complete network of easily accessible hospitals for all your cardiac needs. Our specialists are at the forefront of innovation in cardiology, interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, coronary artery and valvular diseases."

Today, the patient is doing significantly better in his daily activities. He experiences less fatigue, can go grocery shopping without becoming short of breath and reports an overall improvement in his quality of life.

This procedure is offered through RWJBarnabas Health's Advanced Heart Failure Specialist locations, including Advanced Heart Failure Specialists Cardiology in Hamilton, located at 3100 Quakerbridge Road.

Learn more at rwjbh.org/heart

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