Interatrial shunting as a treatment for heart failure: Where do we stand?

This article discusses the potential use of interatrial shunt therapy as a treatment for heart failure (HF). Interatrial shunting involves creating a pathway for blood flow from the high-pressure left atrium to the low-pressure right atrium, which can reduce left-sided filling pressures and improve symptoms and exercise capacity in HF patients. Several interatrial shunt devices have been developed and tested, with varying results. The article presents the results of a study testing the V-Wave Ventura interatrial shunt device in HF patients, which showed positive outcomes in terms of safety, shunt patency, quality of life, and functional health status. However, the study has limitations, and further research is needed to determine the ideal patient population and the long-term effects of interatrial shunting as a treatment for HF. [Extracted from the article]