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Carotid Implants to Treat Drug-Resistant Hypertension: An Early Trial Shows Promise
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Added: 11/20/2006
Type: Summary
Viewed: 278 time(s)
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Carotid Implants to Treat Drug-Resistant Hypertension: An Early Trial Shows Promise
There are many pharmaceutical options to treat hypertension, but traditionally, treatment options have been limited for those patients who do not respond to drug therapies. Today at the 33rd annual VEITHsymposium™, Dr. Jürg Schmidli, Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Berne and Chief of Vascular Surgery at University Hospital Berne (Switzerland), presented the promising results from an early multi-center trial of the RheosTM system, a revolutionary device that uses one of the body's natural systems of blood pressure regulation, the baroreflex, to safely lower high blood pressure.
The baroreflex uses neurons called baroreceptors to automatically trigger the brain to lower blood pressure when it is too high. Some of these baroreceptors are located in the carotid sinus, a point of dilation in the carotid arteries of the neck. The RheosTM system is an electrical implant that stimulates the wall of the carotid sinus, triggering the baroreceptors to reduce high blood pressure.
An early ongoing trial conducted by Schmidli's group implanted the RheosTM system in 16 patients who had a mean blood pressure of 189±29/112±14 mmHg prior to surgery, despite being under maximal antihypertensive multi-drug therapy. All surgeries were technically successful, with no unexpected serious complications or deaths (one device had to be removed because of infection). A month after implantation, the devices were activated. Three months after activation, results for the first 16 patients showed significant decreases in blood pressure, with mean systolic blood pressure levels at 165±21,4 mmHg, and decreases to values as low as 142,1±28,4 mmHg were observed.
"I am very impressed. Now implants in 28 patients confirm these early findings. We are one step further towards vascular surgeons contributing to better blood pressure control in such high risk patients," said Dr. Schmidli.
These exciting early results suggest that the RheosTM system is a safe, effective means of encouraging the body's natural systems to regulate blood pressure, and offer new hope to those patients for whom drug therapies have proven ineffective.
About VEITHsymposium™: Now in its fourth decade, VEITHsymposium™ provides vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, interventional cardiologists and other vascular specialists with a unique and exciting format to learn the most current information about what is new and important in the treatment of vascular disease. The five-day event features 300 rapid-fire presentations from world renowned vascular specialists with emphasis on the latest advances, changing concepts in diagnosis and management, pressing controversies and new techniques. |
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