Manatee Memorial Hospital is the first hospital on the West Coast of Florida, to successfully complete implantation of Barostim™ Baroreflex Activation Therapy, the world’s first FDA-approved heart failure (HF) device to use neuromodulation — the power of the brain and nervous system — to improve the
symptoms of patients with systolic heart failure. This advanced, award-winning therapy was designed to treat HF patients who have had little to no success with other proven treatment options.

The implantation of the Barostim Baroreflex Activation Therapy was performed by Howard Hermans, MD, Vascular Surgeon and Jared Collins, DO, Electrophysiologist at the Manatee Heart and Vascular Center, at the hospital. 

Unlike other HF treatment options, Barostim does not touch the heart and utilizes an electrode that lies on the patient's carotid artery. The electrical impulses that are sent from the neuromodulation device inform the brain of the heart's condition, enabling the brain to improve the function of the heart. Over time, the organ will regain strength, with the symptoms of HF lessening, enabling patients to return to normal activity. This unique
technology is customizable to meet each patient’s individual therapy needs and offers the potential to improve quality of life and reduce health risks associated with HF.