• Home
  • About Us
  • Blog

Pulmonary Hypertension RN

  • What is Pulmonary Hypertension?
    • What is Pulmonary Hypertension?
    • Pulmonary Hypertension Symptoms
    • Types of Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Causes of Pulmonary Hypertension
    • PH vs. PAH
    • Diastolic Heart Failure vs. PAH
    • WHO Group 3 Pulmonary Hypertension, IPF & COPD
    • Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease
    • Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)
      • Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Treatment
    • Functional Classification of Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Congenital Heart Disease
      • Eisenmenger’s Syndrome
      • Update on Management of PAH-CHD
      • Congenital Heart Disease & Sleep Apnea
      • Complex Congenital Heart Disease
      • Atrial Septal Defect and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
    • Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
    • Sickle Cell and Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Stimulant Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
    • Porto-Pulmonary Syndrome
    • Research, Life Expectancy & Prognosis for PH
  • Diagnosing & Monitoring PAH
    • Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Diagnosis
    • How Am I Doing? Assessing Your PAH.
    • Blood Tests
    • Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET)
    • CT (Computed Tomography) Scan
    • Echocardiogram: An Overview
    • Echocardiogram: A Detailed Look
    • Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
    • Right Heart Catheterization
    • Six Minute Walk
    • Ventilation Perfusion Scan (VQ Scan)
    • CTEPH
      • CTEPH: WHO Group 4 Pulmonary Hypertension
      • PTE (Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy) Surgery
      • Adempas used to Treat PAH and CTEPH
  • PAH Treatment
    • Pulmonary Hypertension Centers
    • Pulmonary Hypertension Treatments
    • Continuously Infused Therapies Used to Treat PH
    • Prostanoids for Treatment of PH
    • Adcirca and Revatio Used to Treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
    • Adempas used to Treat PAH and CTEPH
    • Tracleer, Letairis, and Opsumit Treatments
    • Oxygen Therapy for Pulmonary Hypertension
    • Salt and Water Restrictions
    • Exercise & PAH
    • Diuretics
    • Blood Thinners
    • Getting the Most Out of PAH Therapy
      • Letairis
      • Opsumit
      • Sildenafil (Revatio)
  • Research
  • FAQ’s
    • Implanted Remodulin Pump, Right Heart Catheterization, PAH & Pregnancy
    • Oral Treatments, Care Centers & Hole in Heart
    • FAQ’s: Altitude, Cold & Allergy Medications
    • FAQ’s: Psoriasis, Idiopathic PAH, Contraceptives & PAH
    • FAQ’s: Causes of Pulmonary Hypertension, Symptom Frequency & Care Centers
    • FAQ: PAH Experts, Pregnancy, Mild PAH & Vacationing
    • FAQ’s: CTEPH, Blood Clots, Corrective Surgery & PAH Care Centers
    • FAQ’s: VQ Scans & PAH Curable?
    • FAQ’s: Mild Pulmonary Hypertension?
    • FAQ’s: Boating, Swimming & Eating with PAH
    • FAQ’s: Borderline Pulmonary Hypertension, Hand Swelling, Children with PAH, Costs

2019 Update on Implanted Pump for Remodulin

March 6, 2019 By Dr. Jeremy Feldman

implantable remodulin pump system for pulmonary hypertension patientsAlthough the progress of the implanted pump system for Remodulin has been a little like watching paint dry on the wall, we are inching closer to having this new system available for patients.  The clinical trial is now well into its eighth year.  The FDA has approved the pump and the catheter system.  United Therapeutics and Medtronic (the two companies that make the medication and device) continue to work with the FDA and Medicare to iron out the out the last few wrinkles.

Where Will the Pumps be Available?

Once the pumps and catheters are officially released for commercial use, they will be available initially only at sites that participated in the research study.  That means that there will be 10 PH programs across the country that will be able to start implantations.  But don’t get too excited yet.  Each hospital will have to create an entirely new process for acquiring the pumps and figuring out if the surgery and recovery is a viable business for them.  What the process will pay each hospital is a key variable that is being sorted out.

Refilling the Pump

Another hurdle for the 10 study sites is where will refills take place.  Every 4-12 weeks each pump needs to be refilled with new Remodulin. Unlike the current system where the specialty pharmacies (Accredo and CVS-Caremark) ship Remodulin directly to the patient, a different system will be required.  Most sites will probably have an outpatient location in their hospital system where patients will go and the pump will be refilled by a physician or nurse practitioner who has specific training in the process.

When Will Implantation Procedures Begin?

We are hopeful that in the next month or two we will start performing the implantation procedures. It has been a long journey.  We are excited to be able to offer this therapy to patients who are currently receiving continuously infused Remodulin (either intravenous or subcutaneous).  We are also pleased to have learned that the supply of pumps will not be restricted.
Stay tuned for further updates…

Filed Under: Pulmonary Hypertension Treatments

PAH Life Expectancy

PAH Research

Research, Life Expectancy & Prognosis for PH

Major Developments in Pulmonary Hypertension Affecting Prognosis 1.     Approval of

Where to Get Treatment?

CCCs for PAH

Pulmonary Hypertension Centers

Where to get treatment for pulmonary hypertension? Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a

Popular Posts

PAH research

The TRITON Study is Up and Enrolling for PAH

By Dr. Jeremy Feldman

New Study Comparing Medication Combinations in Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Actelion Pharmaceutics has

Internal anatomy of the pulmonary arteries

Living with Complex Congenital Heart Disease

By Dr. Jeremy Feldman

By Tabitha Moe and Jeremy Feldman A normal heart has 4 chambers: 2 top chambers and 2 bottom chambers.  In some

good news in pah

 

Disclaimer

Recent Blog Posts

  • In Memoriam:  Greg Ahearn, MD June 16, 2024
  • Sotatercept (Winrevair) Approved! June 1, 2024
  • Disappointing News for Rodatristat Ethyl October 11, 2023

Categories

Archives