Device for Enlarged Heart

Surgeons at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and The Royal Liverpool University Hospital are testing a device in clinical trials that will electrically stimulate the Vagus Nerve which will suppress the effects of Adrenaline on the heart. Adrenaline increases heart rate and work load of the heart. This stimulation is done on patients with heart failure, which will decrease the work load of the heart and will hopefully prevent further hypertrophy and promote shrinkage of the heart. Hypertrophy is the result of the heart becoming stretched due to hypertension, dead heart muscle, or a genetic condition. The goal of this treatment is to reduce the work load on the heart muscle, which will extend the life of the patient. Dr Jay Wright, a consultant cardiologist at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, told the BBC: "We're hoping it will shrink the heart, but it might not be to normal size."He said shrinkage "would lead to improvement in symptoms - we know that the bigger the heart the worse the symptoms". The first trial will be done on Carl Jordan, a former paramedic who has a wife and young children. He has had several heart attacks which have damaged his heart, causing it to become hypertrophic. He said: "Being the first person to have this device implanted in Liverpool was a huge decision. "My quality of life at the moment is not great, because of the restrictions my condition has imposed on me, especially the breathing problem, as some days this is quite severe and getting worse. "Another factor is I have a young family who, although I am the one with the illness, they too are living with it and see every day what it can do to me, so hopefully it will improve my quality of life as well as the lives of others."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17870314