New Mexico Heart Institute @ Lovelace Medical Center to conduct heart pump study to help improve recovery following heart attacks

ALBUQUERQUE – September 10, 2024 – Doctors at New Mexico Heart Institute (NMHI) participated in the RECOVER IV Trial to study the FDA-approved Impella CP heart pump in patients who have experienced cardiogenic shock, aiming to learn how the pump may help improve heart recovery. Cardiogenic (heart) shock is when the heart is weakened and not pumping enough blood to the rest of your body. Usually, a heart attack is treated by opening the heart artery that is blocked. A temporary heart pump can help move blood to the rest of the body before, during and after the artery is opened.

The RECOVER IV Trial was a randomized study intended to test if routinely using the Impella CP heart pump before unblocking the heart artery helps patients recover better from heart attack with cardiogenic shock. Since the RECOVER IV Trial was conducted during emergency medical situations, eligible patients were often too sick to make healthcare decisions or give their consent to participate in the study. For this reason, study doctors had conversations with many community members about this study and worked to notify the community about it.

Since October 2023, one patient was enrolled in this study at NMHI.

On June 4, 2024, RECOVER IV Trial enrollment was stopped by the sponsor, Abiomed Inc, upon recommendation from the study’s data and safety monitoring board (DSMB), an independent expert committee that monitors safety of patients in the study. The recommendation was made in response to publication of positive results from a separate study, called DanGer Shock. The DanGer Shock trial demonstrated that use of the Impella CP heart pump improves survival in patients with heart attack-related shock. Since the discontinuation of the study, no new patients have or will be screened or enrolled in the RECOVER IV Trial at NMHI.

You can find out more information at r4study.com/news.


###


Contact:
Whitney Alcantar, Lovelace Health System                         
Phone: 505.903.0367             


Lovelace Medical Center
Lovelace Medical Center (LMC), located in the heart of Albuquerque, is a 263-bed acute care hospital with over 1,100 employees providing comprehensive care, including around-the-clock emergency care, surgical services, non-invasive robotic spine surgery, cardiology, stroke care, radiology and oncology services. LMC was recently named to U.S. News & World Report High Performing Best Hospitals, in Heart Attack, Heart Bypass surgery, Heart Failure, Kidney Failure, Stroke and COPD got 2022 -2023 and received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Get with the Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for 2024 for the 12th consecutive year. LMC earned Spine Surgery Program Certification from DNV for 2022- 2025 by demonstrating excellence in orthopedic surgery, including diagnosis and treatments in spine surgery as well as Primary Stroke Center Certification from DNV for 2022 – 2025 for its readiness to handle a full range of stroke-related medical problems. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awarded LMC, one of only 249 programs in the world, the Practice Transitional Accreditation Program (PTAP) for 2023, signifying that the hospital is following best practices and utilizing an evidence-based curriculum that is focused on helping the new graduate nurse transition from student nurse into professional nursing practice. To learn more about the state-of-the-art treatment options, innovative health care providers and award-winning quality initiatives at Lovelace Medical Center, visit lovelace.com.


Lovelace Medical Group/New Mexico Heart Institute
Lovelace Medical Group (LMG) is a multispecialty group of over 300 providers, including physicians and advanced practice providers serving a broad range of specialties and primary care. LMG provides patients with exceptional health care through its 33 health care clinics and the support of Lovelace Health System hospitals and technology. New Mexico Heart Institute/Lovelace Medical Group brings more than 33 years of diagnostic, interventional and preventive cardiovascular expertise to our community and state. To learn more about the experience and skilled providers of Lovelace Medical Group, visit lovelacemedicalgroup.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE