Dignity Health Mercy General Hospital is First in Sacramento to Implant the World’s First Neuromodulation Device to Treat Symptoms of Heart Failure

Sacramento, Calif. (November 11, 2024) –  Dignity Health Mercy General Hospital, known for cardiac excellence, announced the hospital’s first successful implant of Barostim™ Baroreflex Activation Therapy, the world’s first FDA- approved heart failure device to use neuromodulation – the power of the brain and nervous system – to improve the symptoms of patients with systolic heart failure. This therapy was designed to treat heart failure patients who may not be receiving adequate symptom relief from medications alone. 

The procedure was the first Barostim implant completed in Sacramento and was conducted at Mercy General Hospital under the expertise of Dr. Keith Jones, a renowned vascular surgeon at the hospital, in close collaboration with Dr. Munir S. Janmohamed, Medical Director of the Mechanical Circulatory and Heart Failure Programs. The procedure was supported by their exceptional clinical teams, ensuring the highest standard of care.

Unlike other heart failure device therapies, Barostim contains no hardware in the heart or vasculature. It works by electrically stimulating baroreceptors – natural sensors located in the wall of the carotid artery – that tell the nervous system how to regulate heart, kidney and vascular function. These effects reduce the heart’s workload and help it pump more efficiently, helping to restore balance to the autonomic nervous system and improve the symptoms of heart failure. Barostim plus heart failure medications has been shown to improve exercise capacity, quality of life and NYHA class, helping patients return to their daily activities.

"By introducing the world’s first neuromodulation device here in Sacramento, we are not just advancing medical technology—we are offering hope to our patients,” said Dr. Janmohamed, the Medical Director of the Dignity Health Heart Failure Program.“This device has the potential to directly target the underlying mechanisms of heart failure and  both quality of life. It’s an honor to be part of a breakthrough that will shape the future of heart care, offering patients a new pathway to a healthier, more fulfilling life."

Mercy General Hospital’s cardiology and cardiovascular teams diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, ranking in the top two among California hospitals for cardiac bypass surgeries, and have evolved into a recognized national leader in quality outcomes. Most recently, the hospital opened the Lucchetti Anderson Cardiovascular Center underscoring Dignity Health Heart and Vascular Institute of Greater Sacramento’s unwavering commitment to delivering world-class cardiovascular care. This expansion is staffed by a team of dedicated heart specialists, providing patients with comprehensive, collaborative specialized care. 

Mercy General Hospital is committed to being at the forefront of medical innovation, and this groundbreaking procedure is a perfect example of that commitment,” said Steven Foster, President and CEO of Mercy General Hospital. “By being the first in Sacramento to offer this world-changing neuromodulation therapy to our heart failure patients, we are not just embracing cutting-edge technology—we’re giving people a chance to live longer, healthier lives. This is a testament to the expertise and dedication of our medical team, and a reflection of our unwavering mission to provide the best possible care for the communities we serve."

Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen. Essentially, the heart can’t keep up with its workload. People with heart failure often experience shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in lower extremities, weakness, and the reduced ability to perform physical activity. In the US, heart failure is estimated to affect 6.9 million adults and is expected to increase by 24% to nearly 8.5 million by 2030.2 Overall, heart failure is associated with a four-fold increased risk of death and a six to nine times increased risk of sudden cardiac death.

For more information about Lucchetti Anderson Cardiovascular Center, visit our website. 

About Dignity Health
Dignity Health is a multi-state nonprofit network of 10,000 physicians, more than 60,000 employees, 41 acute care hospitals, and 400-plus care-centers, including community hospitals, urgent care, surgery and imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. Dignity Health is a part of CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit health system committed to advancing health for all people and dedicated to serving the common good. For more information, please visit our website at www.DignityHealth.org.

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