Northwell Health has announced that a critically ill patient at North Shore University Hospital has become one of the first patients in the United States, and the first on the East Coast, to be successfully treated with the AeroPace device, a technology designed to help patients come off mechanical ventilation more quickly.

Developed by Lungpacer Medical, the FDA-approved AeroPace system uses neurostimulation technology to activate and strengthen the diaphragm, the primary muscle responsible for breathing. By stimulating the body's natural breathing mechanism, the device is intended to support faster recovery in patients who require prolonged ventilation.

According to the company, patients who remain on ventilators for more than 96 hours can experience a 43% faster recovery with the use of AeroPace.

North Shore University Hospital, a Level I trauma centre that treats more than 90,000 patients annually, frequently handles complex cases due to its advanced critical care capabilities. The hospital has introduced the AeroPace programme under the leadership of critical care specialist Eric Gottesman, Director of Intensivist Medicine.

The diaphragm can weaken rapidly during extended periods of mechanical ventilation because the ventilator performs much of the work required for breathing. This muscle weakness can make it more difficult for patients to regain independent breathing and may prolong recovery.

AeroPace uses a catheter equipped with electrodes that are positioned in either the subclavian artery or the internal jugular vein. The system stimulates the phrenic nerves, causing the diaphragm to contract and helping to prevent muscle atrophy during mechanical ventilation.

Clinical studies have shown that the device can reduce the time patients spend on mechanical ventilation by approximately three days. The technology is also expected to help shorten hospital stays and improve outcomes, particularly for critically ill patients.

North Shore University Hospital is home to several specialist services, including the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital, the Katz Women's Hospital, neurosurgery programmes and multi-organ transplant services. The hospital is part of Northwell Health, the largest non-profit healthcare system in the northeastern United States, with 28 hospitals and more than 1,000 outpatient facilities.

 

Source: businesswire.com

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