National Study Shows Increased Patient Survival for Cardiogenic Shock
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas is part of a national study aimed at improving survival rates for patients suffering a potentially lethal complication after heart attacks, with initial findings showing that 72 percent of patients survived using the new protocols. Typical survival rate from this deadly complication, called cardiogenic shock, has historically hovered around 50 percent.
“We’re committed to this effort to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients who suffer this deadly heart condition,” said Dr. James Park, medical director of Heart & Vascular Services at Texas Health Dallas and an interventional cardiologist with the Texas Health Physicians Group practice Presbyterian Heart & Vascular. “These initial results are exciting, but we have to keep working to improve outcomes even more.”
Researchers from the Henry Ford Medical Center in Detroit, where the treatment protocols were developed, presented the findings earlier this month at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions scientific sessions. Texas Health Dallas is one of 60 hospitals nationwide — and the only one in Texas — to participate in the project.
Cardiogenic shock occurs when the heart suddenly can’t pump enough oxygenated blood to the body. It’s most commonly caused by damage to cardiac muscle from a heart attack. The condition compromises the ability of the left ventricle – the main power plant of the heart – to effectively push blood to organs throughout the body.
“The length of time that the body is in cardiogenic shock will determine how well the brain and other organs recover after being deprived of oxygen-rich blood,” Dr. Park said. “It’s our job to immediately address the problem and diminish the possibility of organ damage or worse, death.”
Two key components helped define the study. First, a small, straw-sized mechanical pump is implanted in the patient’s heart to keep blood flowing throughout the body. Second, the shock protocol requires the use of a unique algorithm so doctors on the medical staff and nurses can systematically wean patients off certain medications that can sometimes create adverse effects.
Between July 2016 and Feb. 2019, more than 170 patients — including patients from Texas Health Dallas — participated in the national study and contributed to the findings presentenced by the Henry Ford Medical Center researchers. By using the new protocol, 72 percent of those patients survived nationwide.
For many years, hospitals across the nation have consistently seen a 50 percent survival rate for cardiogenic shock patients, and they tend to be the sickest of all cardiovascular patients,” said Dr. Aurora Estevez, chief medical officer at Texas Health Dallas. “We’re hoping these impressive results that we helped cultivate can be shared and implemented across the country — and will lead to further advances in the treatment of this condition.”
The study is expected to continue at Texas Health Dallas and other hospitals for at least two more years, with the goal being to further improve survival rates.
“Cardiogenic shock isn’t a common occurrence, but when it happens, these individuals quickly become critically ill,” Park said. “Their survival depends on the immediate actions of those in the emergency department, cardiac cath lab and the ICU. It becomes a collaborative effort among physicians on the medical staff, nurses, radiology techs … you name it. The right hand must definitely know what the left hand is doing.”
Results from the protocol can be found here: https://www.henryford.com/.
By Chandra Caradine • Posted June 4, 2019
