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IN THE PHOTO: (L-R) Abbott (CardioMEMS System manufacturer) Medical Representative Ryan Licht joins Cardiac Cath Lab Supervisor Stacy Huth, Special Procedures Technician Crystal Bauer, Cardiac Cath Lab Staff Nurse Brooke Gispanski, Special Procedures Technician Ashley Myers, Special Procedures Technician Amy Spencer, Dr. Karthikeyan Ranganathan and Dr. Ramzi Khalil celebrate after the successful implementations of the first two CardioMEMS HF Systems at ACMH.

A new remote monitoring option called the CardioMEMS HF System allows ACMH heart failure patients to be monitored from home.

(KITTANNING, PA – 10/9/2024) Dr. Ramzi Khalil and Dr. Karthikeyan Ranganathan, with the help of a team of cardiac care specialists at the ACMH Cardiac Cath Lab, successfully implanted the first two CardioMEMS HF Systems on October 8, 2024 at ACMH Hospital in Kittanning, PA. In both cases, the individuals were treated and released on the same day for the outpatient procedure.

The CardioMEMS HF System is a monitoring technology that consists of a small sensor that is implanted in the pulmonary artery and a home monitoring unit that patients can use to take daily measurements.

A cardiologist implants the sensor in the patient’s pulmonary artery through the femoral or internal jugular vein during a minimally invasive procedure. The sensor is designed for lifetime use and does not need a battery or replaceable parts. The sensor measures and records heart rate and pulmonary artery pressure, which is an early indicator of an impending heart failure event. The information is transmitted to the patient’s cardiologist, who can closely monitor the condition while the patient remains in the comfort of their own home.

In the United States, nearly 6.7 million adults 20 years old or older have heart failure, a condition in which the heart can’t pump blood throughout the body as well as it should. This can cause symptoms like shortness of breath, persistent coughing or wheezing, fatigue and swelling in the legs and ankles from fluid buildup. Heart failure is a chronic condition and can result in patients being frequently admitted to the hospital.

The ACMH Cardiac Catheterization Lab, also known as a “Cardiac Cath Lab,” is a specialized area within ACMH Hospital where doctors and a team of Cardiac Care Specialists perform minimally invasive tests and advanced cardiac procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease.

Nichole Geraci, ACMH Hospital President and CEO, commented on the recent accomplishment. “We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of Dr. Khalil and Dr. Ranganathan as well as our entire Cardiac Cath Lab team here at ACMH,” stated Geraci. “Having this new procedure available enables a much more responsive communication between the team of cardiac professionals and the patient.”

Ramzi Khalil, MD, is an interventional cardiologist with AHN Cardiovascular Institute, skilled at cardiac catheterization, coronary angioplasty, transcatheter heart valve replacement and carotid artery stenting. He provides patient-centered care for structural heart disease and peripheral artery disease. Dr. Khalil sees patients on the ACMH Hospital Campus at the AHN Cardiology Associate’s Kittanning location.

Dr. Karthikeyan Ranganathan is an Interventional Cardiologist and advanced heart failure specialist in Pittsburgh, Pa, and is affiliated with Allegheny General Hospital. Dr. Ranganathan has expertise in treating heart failure, coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy, among other conditions.

“With CardioMEMS, we now have a management and measurement tool for heart failure that gives us real time insight into the disease that we have never had before” explains Dr. Ranganathan. “We can now make adjustments to medications even before symptoms of shortness of breath, swelling, or weight gain begin.”