CardioMEMS Procedure for Heart Failure Patients

By Eric C. Shafer, DO

Medical Director of Heart Failure Clinic

Mercy Health Muskegon

Approximately 6.2 million patients in the U.S. live with heart failure. What can offer these patients a better quality of life? CardioMEMS^®…it is a game changer.

What is CardioMEMS?

CardioMEMS is a small sensor device placed by your cardiologist into the pulmonary artery to measure pressure. This sensor is designed to last a lifetime and does not need a battery or replaceable parts. At home, you will have a special pillow that you lie on once per day to send the data from your CardioMEMS device to a secure remote monitoring system accessed by your Heart Failure Team.

Who can benefit from the CardioMEMS procedure?

Patients with congestive heart failure benefit from CardioMEMS. If you have had a hospitalization in the past 12 months and your heart failure symptoms, including fatigue and shortness of breath, occur with everyday living or minimal activity, CardioMEMS can make a difference in your quality of life.

Why is CardioMEMS helpful?

CardioMEMS detects pressure changes and allows your Heart Failure Team to adjust medications BEFORE you experience heart failure episodes. This early detection and intervention has been proven to improve your symptoms and prevent hospitalizations. Your Heart Failure Team will contact you as needed to adjust your medications based on the data you send via your CardioMEMS device.

What is the CardioMEMS procedure?

Implanting CardioMEMS in your pulmonary artery is a relatively simple outpatient procedure similar to a heart catheterization through a leg vein, allowing you to return home the same day. Recovery time is about one week of limited lifting. CardioMEMS is covered by most major insurance plans.

If you or someone you know is suffering from congestive heart failure and would like to live life with fewer symptoms and repeat hospitalizations, Mercy Health invites you to contact us to see if you are a good candidate for CardioMEMS. We are here to help improve your quality of life.

For more information, call 231-672-6942.