Tiny pump gives Utah mom new life
Layton woman gives birth in the heart lab at IMC in Murray
Tuesday, the 30-year-old Layton woman cuddled 2-week-old Lily Marie in her arms as doctors described the chaotic scene Nov. 10. The baby was delivered, using forceps, then cardiologist Dr. James Revenaugh threaded the world's smallest heart pump, the Abiomed Impella 2.5, into the pumping chamber of Alisa Barnard's heart to suck blood into the aorta for distribution to her body. That tiny pump, approved just a few months before by the Food and Drug Administration, gave her heart temporary support when it was too weak to pump adequately on its own, saving her life.
Once Lily Marie was safely delivered, the assembled multidisciplinary medical crew clapped and some of them wiped away tears of relief, they said.
Alisa and Paul Barnard also have three boys, ages 2 1/2 to 13. Not long before baby Lily was due, Mom started experiencing extreme fatigue and shortness of breath. She thought it was just the toll of the pregnancy; it was actually peripartum cardiomyopathy, a relatively rare heart failure syndrome that occurs in the final weeks of pregnancy or first few months after delivery.
When she went to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden for a test, her doctor was alarmed and she was transported by Life Flight to IMC in Murray, where she spent three days while doctors worked to stabilize her and come up with a plan to keep both mom and baby "safe and alive," said heart expert Dr. A.G. Kfoury.
Her cardiomyopathy had kicked off another potentially deadly condition, pulmonary hypertension, which reduces blood to the lungs and oxygen to the body and increases the already weakened heart's load. Going into the delivery, doctors figured things could go badly not only for Mom but for baby.
The medical team, led by Dr. Patrick W. Fisher, an advanced heart failure/transplant cardiologist, kept the plan fluid as her condition changed and doctors juggled various concerns. He referred to the night as a "nail biter."
Revenaugh described it as a "medical Rubik's Cube." Most heart pumps, for instance, require blood thinners very dangerous during delivery, especially if there's a chance a Caesarean section will be required. So they took the baby first but prepped for insertion of the heart pump as they prepared for delivery. Meanwhile, her heart rate plunged then slowly rose as maternal-fetal specialist Dr. Flint Porter delivered the baby.
Even then, they gave Alisa Barnard only small amounts of localized anti-clotting agents at the site of the heart pump, which was removed three days later. Alisa Barnard now has an implanted defibrillator.
Barnard's heart remains weak, functioning at about 20 percent compared to the normal 50 percent to 70 percent. But when she arrived to have her baby, it was only 5 percent. They're all very hopeful that it will continue to recover, Kfoury said.
Awake the whole time, Alisa Barnard said she "relied on everyone's prayers and blessings" to see her through. And she's happy now to be back home with her family.
E-mail: lois@desnews.com
Recent comments
it is wonder full invention to save her baby.alisa congratulation...
maqbool ahmed | March 12, 2009 at 2:25 a.m.
A miracle to keep firmly in mind. This young woman was...
Anonymous | Nov. 26, 2008 at 2:34 p.m.
This is a timely article. I am so happy for the family that the...
Dan | Nov. 26, 2008 at 9:43 a.m.
- Wimbledon ratings best in 10 years 1:21 p.m.
- Fissure study under way in Iron Co. 1:17 p.m.
- Raptors confirm Turkoglu 1:10 p.m.
- Trial begins in Hilton contract 12:57 p.m.
- Clippers sign No. 1 pick Griffin 12:50 p.m.
- MLB fans feel priced out at ballpark 12:48 p.m.
- GM sale cleared 12:47 p.m.
- House passes food stamps bill 12:33 p.m.
- Utah man to serve 4 years for fraud 12:26 p.m.
- U.S. to launch $15B food initiative 12:06 p.m.
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
- Utah's top 10: Wealth of recreation
- MWC, WAC rushed into BCS
- O'Connor unhappy Fes not with team
- Teen injured in fall from waterfall
- River flow marks birth of sanctuary
- Keeping golf light on the wallet
- Fatigued Jazz no match for Pacers
- Murder charge filed in shooting
- Jazz payroll is $3.1 million over tax
- Letters: Palin mistreated
134 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
133 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
132 - 'Tea party' protesters unhappy
107 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Stadium of Fire lights up the 4th
78 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
77 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Millsap not franchise player
70 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The night was balmy though buggy at SPOC, the Stansbury Park Observatory...
Christ would smile if we erased the lines on our maps. Is it greed that...
Other than a couple of people that post to this sight, there aren't any of...
So when will it happen that when you start a new job, not only will you have...
One of the great things about music is that the same piece of music can have...
Gue: I got the Kirby book on Amazon for around 3 pounds.It's worth keeping...
To "wallofvoodoo | 12:39 p.m." read my 8:32 AM post. That is what I would...
Elder Holland’s advice to missionaries to listen to the Spirit first...
What's the difference between a "smart bomb" dropped from 15000 feet, and a...
It was not a coup. Everything was done legally. Please go to the Wall Street...
todd I want to agree with you about Dallas but I just can't. Kidd gets...


