A Kentucky man became the first U.S. heart patient to receive a HeartPOD, a cardiac implant that senses congestive heart failure.
Lonnie Marshall, 54, a truck driver, has been implanted with a sensor linked to a palm-size computer that shows patients what's happening with their hearts.
The system then tells patients how to adjust their own medication, officials at the Ohio State University told the Cincinnati Post.
"The potential is just enormous," said principal investigator Dr. William Abraham, chief of cardiovascular medicine at Ohio State.
Accumulation of fluid in the lungs is the major complication associated with congestive heart failure.
The new device helps alleviate that congestion and therefore should reduce hospitalizations, said Abraham.
The implant is being tested internationally for its effectiveness and functionality. So far, eight other patients have received the implants in Australia and New Zealand.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
