Doctors say the beta- blocker helps the heart heal and repair itself over time. It also helps the heart sustain the benefits of the milrinone long after it is stopped. The patients often have trouble performing everyday activities including walking across the room. We need to come up with other options and other solutions, and this is one that can really improve people's quality of life and length of life as well. The patients wear the device for up to six months and then many are weaned off the medicine and given oral medications.
Some patients require a longer treatment.
It just depends on the patient. He says it's important for the medicine to be given intravenously for a few months because it is given in a steady level in the blood stream. Copyright 2000 by TheCarolinaChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.