Enhancing quality of life for patients with advanced heart failure
Heart failure is an increasingly common condition but with a growing array of exciting treatment options which are making a real difference to those living with the condition. However, a small proportion of those living with heart failure will progress to an advanced stage of the condition where conventional therapies such as medications, diuretics and pacemaker devices are no longer effective to manage their symptoms resulting in a deteriorating quality of life and often very frequent hospitalisations.
These patients may be considered for specialised treatments here at the Mater including a heart transplant or a heart pump called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to improve their symptoms, quality of life and allow them to live longer. Some patients with advanced heart failure may not be suitable for a heart transplant or LVAD and they may need palliative care to manage their often debilitating symptoms and to maximise their quality of life while supporting them to remain at home and out of hospital or hospice as long as possible.
That’s why it is so impactful that the generosity of our supporters enabled us to invest in two BD Bodyguard ambulatory pumps to support treatment of these patients in their own homes to improve their quality of life and minimise the need for hospitalisation. These lightweight, portable infusion pumps allows continuous intravenous delivery 24 hours a day of a specialised medication called Milrinone which improves the pumping function of the heart allowing better blood f low around the body. This can improve the often severe symptoms of fatigue and breathlessness and add many months of meaningful, quality time to the lives of these patients to allow them remain at home with family and friends.
Compared with the older devices previously used for home Milrinone treatment which were large, heavy and had a very short battery life, these new pumps are small, discreet and very lightweight with a battery life of 48 hours which has greatly improved the independence of our patients. Patients who are suitable for this kind of treatment receive full training from the Heart Support nursing team and may only need to attend the hospital for dressings and assessment every 1-2 weeks.
A recent patient with advanced heart failure received treatment with Milrinone continuously at home for the last eighteen months of his life using one of these lightweight infusion pumps. This allowed him to minimise time spent in hospital with a life limiting condition and to maximise quality time at home with his wife and children and, although he did have some limitations, he continued to enjoy working.
In a time when comfort and autonomy mattered most, this simple intervention made a profound difference to his quality of life, independence and also to the lives of his family. During his time using the pump daily, he spoke movingly about how this treatment positively impacted his daily experience. He shared, “I feel very fortunate to have a huge amount of support in this regard. I won’t claim to be partying like it’s 1999 but I am enjoying quality of life and time at home with my family that would not be possible without the freedom that this small milrinone infusion pump has given me.”