Rochester General Hospital (RGH) is making history as the first U.S. site to participate in a pivotal clinical trial for AquaPass, an innovative non-invasive therapy targeting fluid overload in patients with congestive heart failure and end-stage renal disease.
Last week, Greece resident William Licherdell became the first U.S. patient to use the AquaPass system under the care of Dr. Scott Feitell, a leading cardiologist and Director of Heart Failure at the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute. Dr. Feitell, named Principal Investigator for the trial in the United States, hailed the project as a significant step forward for heart failure treatment.
“We’re excited at Rochester Regional Health to work on a clinical trial that could one day offer all of our heart failure patients a non-invasive therapy aimed at improving their quality of life,” Dr. Feitell said. “It’s an honor to help drive innovation that could provide new hope for those managing the symptoms of this disease.”
Fluid overload, a common and dangerous condition in heart failure patients, leads to swelling in the limbs and abdomen and fluid buildup in the lungs, causing severe discomfort and shortness of breath. This condition is also the leading cause of hospitalization among congestive heart failure patients.
The AquaPass system, which has received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation, offers a promising solution. Worn as a robe, it uses warm air to evaporate and remove excess fluid through the skin without requiring drugs or invasive procedures. The process does not significantly raise body temperature, making it a comfortable and potentially transformative treatment option.
Early clinical trials conducted in Israel showed significant results: all participants experienced weight reduction from fluid loss, 30% reduced their diuretic drug use, nearly half reported improved quality of life, and none were readmitted to the hospital during the trial.
The ongoing U.S. trial at RGH is part of the journey toward FDA approval, with the potential for the AquaPass to become a cost-effective treatment that patients can use from home. This development could reduce the need for hospital stays, improving care accessibility and reducing costs for healthcare systems.
Rochester Regional Health is still enrolling patients for the trial. For more information, patients and healthcare providers are encouraged to contact the Sands-Constellation Heart Institute.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].
link