WakeMed Enrolls First Patient in Nation in Groundbreaking Clinical Trial to Reduce Heart Attack Damage

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 7, 2022) – WakeMed Health & Hospitals has enrolled the first patient in the nation in a new, groundbreaking clinical trial to reduce the size and potential irreversible damage of heart attacks. The purpose of the global trial, known as AMIHOT III, is to further validate the effectiveness of SuperSaturated Oxygen (SSO₂) Therapy to improve the function of the heart by reducing damage to the heart muscle following a heart attack.

In the United States, someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds. A heart attack is typically caused when oxygenated blood flow to the heart is blocked or reduced. Most often, the heart’s tiny capillaries then swell, further restricting blood flow. If not quickly restored, irreversible damage to the heart muscle, or infarction, will occur. While timely percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) restores flow to the main affected artery, blood flow through the tiny capillaries is still restricted. This can lead to large muscle damage of the heart and often ends in the patient suffering debilitating heart failure.

The AMIHOT III clinical trial utilizes SSO₂ Therapy to improve blood flow through the tiny capillaries, restore heart tissue to normal oxygen levels and, in turn, reduce irreversible damage to the heart muscle. SSO₂ Therapy is a one-time, 60-minute infusion of a patient’s super oxygenated blood to the targeted ischemic area of the heart through a small catheter.

Dr. Frances Wood, WakeMed Heart & Vascular interventional cardiologist and co-director of the WakeMed Heart & Vascular - Structural Heart practice, is the Principal Investigator for the study at WakeMed. Dr. Wood and her team participated in the original SSO2 Therapy trials in 2016, which showed a dramatic 25 percent reduction in infarct size.

“We are very excited to continue to advance heart attack treatment at WakeMed and to offer innovative therapies to our patients,” said Dr. Wood. “I am so proud of our Invasive Cardiology catheterization team, research team, and WakeMed Heart & Vascular’s Jason Licht, PA-C, and Dr. Peter Chan for their roles in the care of our first patient. “

The AMIHOT III trial will include 434 anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients across high-quality medical facilities in the United States and Europe.

About WakeMed Health & Hospitals

Serving the community since 1961, WakeMed is a not-for-profit health care system founded and based in Raleigh, N.C. WakeMed exists to improve the health and well-being of our community by providing outstanding and compassionate care to all. WakeMed’s 970-bed system comprises a network of facilities throughout the Triangle area, including three full-service hospitals, seven emergency departments, a dedicated Children’s Hospital and Rehabilitation Hospital, more than 80 physician offices and Wake County’s only Level I Trauma Center. WakeMed’s mission-driven team includes more than 10,300 employees, 1,000 volunteers and 1,300 affiliated physicians, along with the more than 700 physicians and providers with WakeMed Physician Practices – all representing the best minds and the biggest hearts and the finest quality in health care and community health. For more information, visit www.wakemed.org or follow WakeMed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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