An invention to ease fluid build-up in heart failure

Transdermal Fluid Removal (TFR)- a novel community-based and patient self-administered treatment for fluid overload in heart failure

According to data from 2015, more than half a million people in the UK are living with heart failure. A debilitating symptom of heart failure can be excessive fluid accumulation in the body, causing swelling and breathing problems. Some people do not respond to the medicines used to tackle this, and end up having to go to hospital for more invasive treatments or even dialysis. This can be stressful and inconvenient for patients, sometimes has little effect and can have the unwanted side effect of kidney failure. Dr Ebah and his team at the University of Manchester are developing a new medical device as an alternative treatment for the relief of fluid accumulation without an effect on the kidneys. The device removes water by creating tiny pores in the skin and drawing out fluid into a drainage bag. The team hope that the device will eventually be used in the comfort of the patient’s own home – and set-up by the patient or their carers – so admission to hospital is reduced. The team has done some initial research to show the device can remove fluid without causing any damage to the skin. The next phase is to show that the device removes enough fluid to be considered as a practical future treatment. If successful, this invention could improve the quality of life of many people with heart failure.