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Cardiologists at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center have a new tool that allows them to fine tune treatment for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) without having to perform an invasive procedure. The Bio-Z Noninvasive Hemodynamic Monitor is based on thoracic impedance. It sends a small current through the patient's chest to show the difference in the blood in the aorta when the heart is contracting and when it is at rest. The digital readouts produced by this monitor allow cardiologists to determine whether or not a patient's blood flow is normal and whether blood vessels coming out of the heart are constricted or normal. This data is used by cardiologists to adjust medication accordingly. It literally shows how effective the heart is each time it beats. Previously, cardiologists had to insert a catheter through either the neck or the groin and thread it through the venous system to the right side of the heart and the pulmonary artery to obtain this data. The availability of this technology allows more frequent monitoring of patients and avoids the negative aspects of such an invasive procedure. The Bio-Z monitor represents a significant breakthrough for the 5 million Americans who have CHF. Each year in this country, 550,000 new cases are diagnosed. For more information on Bio-Z monitoring call (860) 714-4161.
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