Parrish Medical Center among the first to use new, leading-edge cardiovascular technology- FDA-Approved Impella CP Heart Pump

Parrish Medical Center among the first to use new, leading-edge cardiovascular technology—

FDA-Approved Impella CP Heart Pump™

TITUSVILLE, FLA. (Nov. 5, 2018) — Parrish Medical Center is now using the new, minimally invasive technology called the Impella CP Heart Pump™. The medical device was first used by PMC’s Cardiovascular team in August to reopen blocked coronary arteries of a patient who had suffered three heart attacks while in route to the emergency department.

The Impella™ is an advanced, percutaneous cardiac assist device that pumps for the heart. It allows the heart to rest during stent placement or balloon angioplasty. The device is inserted through a catheter in the patient’s groin (femoral artery). This results in a much shorter recovery for patients.

PMC’s first Impella™ patient was treated well under national benchmarks of 90 minutes from arrival in the emergency room to the time the coronary artery was opened (door-to-balloon time.) More importantly, the patient experienced an excellent outcome and was able to return home to loved-ones.

“It is extremely gratifying to us to be able to provide this medically advanced cardiovascular treatment to our community,” said George Mikitarian, Parrish Medical Center | Parrish Healthcare president/CEO. “Use of the Impella™ allows more patients with severe heart damage to receive the care they need close to home.”

According to Parrish Medical Center’s 2016 Community Needs Health Assessment, more than 86 percent of adults in North Brevard report one or more cardiovascular risk factors. Risk factors include being overweight, smoking cigarettes, being physically inactive or having high blood pressure or cholesterol.

The Florida Department of Health attribute 3 out of 10 deaths in Florida to heart disease and it is the number one killer in the U.S.

While, to date, over 50,000 patients have been treated with Impella in the United States, Impella is currently used in only 1 percent of percutaneous coronary interventions. PMC’s Cardiovascular Services is at the forefront of this lifesaving medical advancement.