Hosptial joins clinical trial of new heart failure treatment

In search of treatment options for heart failure, Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute has joined an international clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Synchronicity, a new pacing approach for heart failure patients.

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The condition is commonly treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), which uses an implanted device to help weakened or failing hearts beat more efficiently, but meets with mixed results.

Sponsored by Boston Scientific and led locally by Sarasota Memorial Hosptial cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Antonio Moretta, the study is designed to compare traditional CRT with an experimental approach called Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing. It involves implanting a lead in the left bundle branch area of the heart. Although the lead is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it has not been cleared for the treatment of heart failure. 

 The clinical trial will enroll up to 1,100 participants at as many as 100 sites globally. Eligible patients must be 18 years or older, diagnosed with heart failure, currently receiving drug therapy and meet evidence-based guidelines for cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator.

 For information about the trial, contact the research team at 941-917-2225 or [email protected].