Innovative Non-Surgical Approach Boosts Survival Rates in Severe Low Blood Pressure Cases

Recent advancements in non-surgical treatment techniques have shown remarkable promise in improving survival outcomes for patients experiencing ultra-low blood pressure conditions, particularly those in cardiogenic shock. An extensive eight-year clinical trial conducted by HonorHealth Research Institute demonstrated that 86% of these critically ill patients survived at least three months, and 73% survived six months following the novel procedures. These techniques primarily involve the use of minimally invasive catheter-based interventions.

The procedure includes two key interventions: the first involves repairing the mitral valve non-surgically with specialized clips to prevent blood from regurgitating back into the lungs, which is a common complication in such cases; the second entails implanting a motorized impeller device that actively draws blood from the left ventricle and propels it into the body's circulatory system via the aorta.

Most patients suffering from cardiogenic shock are typically considered too unstable for traditional open-heart surgery, making these minimally invasive solutions critical. The success of this approach was facilitated by a collaborative effort among cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, imaging specialists, and intensive care teams at HonorHealth.

Lead researcher Dr. David G. Rizik highlighted the significance of these findings, stating, "This is a groundbreaking step in the treatment of structural heart shock, offering hope to patients who previously had very limited options." He emphasized that the study represents one of the largest single-center investigations into transcatheter repair techniques for this high-risk population.

Building on initial success, Dr. Rizik intends to expand the research by establishing larger clinical trials across multiple centers, aiming to refine these methods and increase survival rates among diverse patient groups. Structural shock can result from genetic factors or degenerative changes in heart valves, especially in elderly patients, and innovative non-surgical therapies could revolutionize management strategies.

These pioneering procedures were showcased at the New York Valves 2025 conference, emphasizing their potential impact on treating complex heart conditions. The development signals a significant paradigm shift in managing patients in critical cardiac states, with the goal of reducing mortality and improving quality of life.

For more detailed information, refer to the original study: David G. Rizik et al, Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair and Mandatory Mechanical Circulatory Support in Patients With Structural Shock, Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (2025). Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-surgical-technique-survivability-patients-ultra.html