World’s smallest heart pump helping West Tennessee patients

JACKSON, Tenn. — Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the country, but health experts are hoping a device will help change that.

Doctors reunited with one of their patients Monday morning as a mobile truck lab made a stop outside Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

“We have a great medical team here in West Tennessee within a few miles of everybody, and I’m so thankful for that,” Harry Scott said.

Scott has been recovering since February after a heart attack left him unresponsive for 19 days. Through a device by Abiomed called the Impella, Soctt is able to see how technology played a role in saving his life.

“We’re able to support them and treat the problem, fix the lesions, stabilize and actually discharge them home in much better shape than they came,” Dr. Alexander Alperovich, a cardiologist, said.

The bus, which tours the country, is showing medical professionals exactly how the world’s smallest heart pump works.

“People come with a heart attack, many times the heart fails to pump because a lot of heart muscle is injured and cannot pump, so we put a pump to help to work together with the heart and move the blood around the body,” Dr. Alperovich said.

The Impella allows doctors to operate while pumping blood to treat the patient and stabilize him.

For Scott, it played a major role in spending more time with his grandkids. “This spring, I was able to go see my grandson play ball. I’m thankful for that,” Scott said.

The heart pump is recommended by the FDA to last up to four days.

Doctors say preventative care to avoid heart disease includes exercise, not smoking, and eating healthy. Health experts recommend seeing your physician regularly to check for high blood pressure.