Memphis VA first in VA MidSouth Healthcare Network to complete a Barostim implant procedure

On Nov. 11, 2024, Dr. Indranill Basu-Ray, cardiologist & cardiac electrophysiologist, director of the clinical cardiac electrophysiology laboratory and cardiovascular research at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, along with Dr. James Blatchford, cardiovascular surgeon, implanted the first Barostim device. This device is groundbreaking technology for treating heart failure. Contrary to traditional therapies, Barostim does not require any hardware to be implanted in the heart or blood vessels. Instead, it works by electrically stimulating baroceptors—natural sensors in the wall of the carotid artery (a blood vessel inside the neck)—that signals the nervous system to regulate heart, kidney, and vascular function. This results in improvement in heart failure symptoms and exercise capacity in over 94% of patients implanted with the device, according to the BeAT-HF trial and other trials, which led to the FDA’s approval of this device for Americans with heart failure. It also reduces the need for hospitalization and reduces all-cause death by 34% in patients with advanced heart failure.

By reducing the heart’s workload and improving it’s pumping efficiency, Barostim helps restore balance to the autonomic nervous system, alleviating heart failure symptoms. When used alongside heart failure medications, Barostim has been shown to enhance exercise capacity. 

To date, Basu-Ray has completed two successful Barostim procedures with a handful of others scheduled in the coming months. “We are excited to offer this new therapy to our Veterans to help them return to their daily activities and improve their quality of life rather than their useful years being mired by recurrent hospitalization, severe debilitating symptoms, and finally leading to end state heart failure and death” said Basu-Ray.

Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs for blood and oxygen. People with heart failure often experience shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in lower extremities, weakness, and the reduced ability to perform physical activity. In the US, heart failure is estimated to affect 6.9 million adults and is expected to increase by 24% to nearly 8.5 million by 2030.