Haroon Faraz MD Appointed Regional Lead for the PROTECT IV Trial

Haroon Faraz, M.D., was recently appointed Regional Lead for the PROTECT IV Trial for the Southeast, which is evaluating the effectiveness of a novel treatment for high-risk patients with complex heart disease and reduced heart function who require cardiac catheterization. Dr. Faraz is director of Interventional Cardiology Research, HUMC, and Principal Investigator for the PROTECT IV study.

About the PROTECT IV Study

The PROTECT IV study is comparing cardiac catheterization with and without the addition of a small heart pump called Impella^® to see if Impella support relieves heart disease symptoms and improves heart function and overall health better than catheterization alone. Hackensack University Medical Center is now recruiting patients for the study. If the data show conclusively that the hemodynamic support provided by the Impella device is superior to coronary angioplasty alone, it could lead to a new standard of care for high-risk patients with complex coronary artery disease and impaired heart function. For people with complex coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure who are not be healthy enough to undergo open heart surgery, doctors recently started using the Impella device to support heart function during percutaneous intervention. With the hemodynamic support of the Impella device, the heart is rested, the kidneys receive adequate blood, and there is no time during the procedure when the patient's hemodynamic status is compromised.

 To Enroll Patients in the Study

• Hackensack University Medical Center is now recruiting for this study. For more information, contact 844-464-9355.
• Eligible patients for PROTECT IV include people ages 18-90 with coronary artery disease in multiple blood vessels and congestive heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or less, an indicator of weakened heart pumping ability).