SUNY Downstate Specialists Pioneer Innovative Heart Failure Treatment, Offering New Hope for Patients Who Are Unresponsive to Traditional Therapies
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Jul 15, 2024
BROOKLYN, NY–The Division of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at SUNY’s University Hospital at Downstate completed its first successful implantation of a Cardiac Contractility Modulation (CCM) device. This innovative procedure enhances the heart’s natural contraction strength, improving long-term health and well-being for patients with heart failure.
The procedure provides a course of treatment for patients with limited treatment options. Most heart failure treatments are used for symptom management and the slowing of disease progression but lead to a lower quality of life and a higher mortality rate as the medicines become less effective over time.
The implantation of CCM devices at SUNY’s University Hospital at Downstate, performed by Adam Budzikowski, M.D., Ph.D., FHRS, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Electrophysiology Service, tackles the root cause of heart failure. These devices send electrical pulses to the heart, enhancing its natural contraction abilities and boosting the body’s supply of oxygen-rich blood.
“We are thrilled to have brought Cardiac Contractility Modulation therapy to the Brooklyn community, which will open new doors for patients who have not responded to traditional treatment methods,” said Dr. Budzikowski. “This success demonstrates Downstate’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered care as we strive to provide our patients with the most cutting-edge treatment available.”
Heart failure is a type of heart disease and the leading cause of death in the United States. It occurs when the heart cannot pump enough oxygenated blood to sustain the body. Heart failure affects approximately five million Americans and presents symptoms such as difficulty breathing and severe fatigue, which can be highly debilitating and even sudden death.
CCM therapy offers a more sustainable treatment option for patients who struggle with traditional medications and utilizes innovative technology to enhance heart function, relieve heart failure symptoms, and improve long-term health outcomes.
Downstate’s cardiac electrophysiology team, led by Dr. Budzikowski, evaluates and treats patients who experience heart rhythm disorders related to atypical cardiac electrical signaling. The team’s services include cardiac resynchronization therapy, implantation and extraction of pacemakers, and remote arrhythmia monitoring for heart failure patients.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.