Cardiac performance and ventricular-arterial coupling following PARACHUTE implantation

The PARACHUTE (CardioKinetix, Inc., Menlo Park, CA) is a novel percutaneous ventricular restoration (PVR) device [1]. Its aim is to partition the left ventricle (LV) isolating the dysfunctional region and thus reducing both systolic and diastolic volumes, decreasing myocardial wall stress, and thereby improving LV function [2]. An ongoing, large US pivotal trial, PARACHUTE IV, will examine the response to treatment and assess changes of systolic performance and diastolic function [3]. However, current data already support improvements in hemodynamics, functional capacity, six-minute walk distance, quality of life and a promising decline in mortality two years after implantation [4], [5].