William Licherdell, a Greece resident, sits in a hospital chair while receiving AquaPass treatment as part of a clinical trial.ROCHESTER, NY - Rochester General Hospital (RGH) is the first U.S. site of a groundbreaking pivotal clinical trial of the AquaPass, a system designed to significantly help congestive heart failure and end-stage renal disease patients suffering from fluid overload.
Greece resident William Licherdell was the first patient in the U.S. to wear the AquaPass suit this last week for congestive heart failure under the supervision of RRH cardiologist and heart failure specialist Scott Feitell, DO, RRH Director of Heart Failure at Sands-Constellation Heart Institute. Dr. Feitell has been named Principal Investigator (PI) for the trial in the United States.
“We are excited at Rochester Regional Health to work on a clinical trial that could one day offer all of our heart failure patients a non-invasive renal independent therapy focused on improving their quality of life," Dr. Feitell said. "We’re proud to be a part of the process driving innovation, and offering cutting-edge technology that could provide new hope for those trying to manage the symptoms of their disease."
Fluid overload is the leading cause of hospitalization for congestive heart failure patients. Their hearts cannot pump blood effectively, causing increased pressure in the blood vessels leading to swelling in the legs, feet, hands and abdomen. Additionally, fluid buildup in the lungs causes shortness of breath. Not only is the retention of fluid uncomfortable for patients, it can become a life-threatening condition.
The AquaPass, which has received an FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, is a non-invasive, renal independent, drug free solution for treating fluid overload. It is worn as a robe and uses warm air to evaporate and remove fluid through the skin without significantly increasing body temperature.
If successful, the AquaPass could one day become a cost-effective way to treat a heart failure patient’s fluid overload symptoms from the comfort of their own homes, avoiding expensive and lengthy hospital stays.
Clinical trials conducted in Israel showed a weight reduction of fluid in all of the participating patients, a 30% decrease in diuretic drug use for those patients, nearly half of patients reported an improvement in their quality of life and none had a hospital readmission during the time of the testing.
A study of the AquaPass system toward FDA market approval in the US is currently underway at RGH and still enrolling patients.
Video Interviews, B-roll, and photos of the AquaPass at RGH can be downloaded here.
To learn more search at www.clinicaltrials.gov
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About Rochester Regional Health
Rochester Regional Health is an integrated health services organization serving the people of Western New York, the Finger Lakes, St. Lawrence County, and beyond. The system includes nine hospitals; primary and specialty practices, rehabilitation centers, ambulatory campuses and urgent care facilities; innovative senior services, facilities and independent housing; a wide range of behavioral health services; and Rochester Regional Health Laboratories and ACM Global Laboratories, a global leader in patient and clinical trials. Rochester Regional Health is the region's second-largest employer. Learn more at www.Rochesterregional.org.
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