First-in-Man Implantation of Left Ventricular Partitioning Device in a Patient With Chronic Heart Failure: Twelve-Month Follow-up

BackgroundThe ventricular partitioning device (VPD) (Cardiokinetix Inc., Redwood City, Calif) is a novel device that is deployed percutaneously in the left ventricle in patients with anteroapical regional wall motion abnormalities after a myocardial infarction (MI) to partition the ventricle and segregate the dysfunctional region. In this case report we present the first implantation of the VPD in a human, with a 12-month efficacy and safety follow-up.Methods and ResultsA 48-year-old man had an anterior MI in 2004. A coronary angiogram showed an occlusion of the proximal segment of the left anterior descending artery with no stenosis on other major epicardial vessels. Echocardiography revealed a dilated left ventricle (62 mm) with anteroapical wall motion abnormalities, no apical thrombus, a calculated ejection fraction of 26.8% (by Simpson biplane formula), and an end-systolic volume index (ESVi) of 76.8 mL/m2. The VPD implant was delivered percutaneously from the femoral artery by the standard techniques for left-sided heart catheterization. The postimplantation course was uneventful. Echocardiography on discharge showed the VPD implanted at the apex, with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 30.9% and an ESVi of 57.2 mL/m2. Left ventricular ejection fraction and ESVi remained improved during the 12-month follow-up.ConclusionThis case report demonstrates that VPD implantation in this particular patient was feasible and that it may provide a nonsurgical approach to prevent or reverse left ventricle remodeling.