In: Nursing
what are recent advances and rising new technology and ways that it can improve cardiac care? What are the obstacles or cons to this? Would you have any concerns using this for your personal care?
1) Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt selected five innovative technologies in
the world of cardiovascular health that he predicts we'll be
hearing more about in the coming years.
a. Google Glass :- Google Glass, the best known example of wearable
computing technologies, consists of a headset that sits on your
face like a pair of eyeglasses. But this sophisticated mini
computer can take pictures, record videos, and wirelessly transmit
data. Physicians can wear the hands free device during medical
procedures to record and transmit images without having to handle
cameras and contaminate the sterile surgical environment. One
potential use for Google Glass is during coronary angiography, in
which a doctor injects a special dye into the heart's arteries to
reveal possible narrowings or blockages. In one small study,
angiographic images broadcast through Google Glass to computers or
iPads were sharp enough to be accurately interpreted by experts who
weren't present during the procedure. In the future, this
technology could allow people with heart problems to benefit from
the expertise of cardiologists around the globe.
b. Bioresorbable stents :- During an artery opening angioplasty,
doctors usually place a tiny mesh tube called a stent that releases
drugs into the vessel to keep it open. But over time, clots can
form inside stents. Preventing this may require long term drug
treatment. A new type of stent that gradually dissolves within a
year or so may help sidestep that problem. Called bioresorbable
stents, they also enable treated vessels to regain their ability to
constrict and expand.In one recent trial, the everolimus-eluting
bioresorbable stent was just as effective as the most commonly used
drug eluting stent. However, currently available bioresorbable
stents are less flexible and therefore harder to place inside
arteries than metal stents, which limits their use in more complex
coronary artery disease.But some experts hope further advances in
the technology may allow bioresorbable stents to replace metal
stents in the future.
c. Leadless pacemaker :-Traditional pacemakers consist of a small
battery operated power source implanted under the skin. Wires known
as leads deliver electrical impulses to the heart muscle to help
maintain a normal heartbeat. Although pacemakers are in general
very reliable, the leads represent the weak link in the system.
When complications do arise, they most often involve a broken lead
(which can cause a malfunction) or an infection at the insertion
site. In addition, some people have anatomical differences that
make it difficult to implant the lead. The leadless pacemaker is a
tiny, self contained unit that is placed on the inside wall of the
heart through a thin, flexible tube called a catheter. The first
version of a single chamber pacemaker placed in the heart's right
lower pumping chamber looks promising. Future iterations may be
available in the next few years.
d. Valve-in-valve procedure :- Heart valves made from animal tissue
(called bioprosthetic valves) are increasingly used to replace
stiff, narrowed aortic valves. Compared with mechanical valves,
they carry a lower risk of clot formation, which means people who
get them probably don't need long term anticlotting drugs. The
catch is that bioprosthetic valves don't last as long as mechanical
valves, so a recipient may eventually require another surgery to
replace the valve a second time. Now, a less invasive technique
called a valve-in-valve procedure is more often being used instead
of that second surgery. A new bioprosthetic valve is inserted into
the heart via a catheter at the site of the failing device. More
research needs to be done on the pros and cons of this procedure in
younger patients. But it may turn out to be the best valve
replacement option for people at high risk from surgery.
e. Protein patch for heart muscle growth :-During a heart attack,
heart muscle cells suffer damage and die. Since these cells cannot
fully regenerate, scar tissue forms instead. This makes it harder
for the heart to pump blood effectively and ultimately may lead to
heart failure. Recently, a team of health and bioengineering
experts discovered a natural protein that can promote the regrowth
of normal tissue. In an early study using mice and pigs, the
researchers discovered that when a patch containing this protein
was sewn on the animals' damaged heart muscle, cardiac cells
actually began to regrow, and heart function returned to near
normal. Scientists hope to begin human clinical trials of the patch
within the next two years.
2) Stroke,Infection,Kidney problems,Heart attack,Short-term memory
problems,Re-narrowing of arteries (may need another surgery or
PCI),Death,Side effects specific to medication type.