Trinity Health Oakland First in Michigan to Implant Neuromodulation Device to Treat Symptoms of Heart Failure

Photo from left to right: Chris Mocerino, Barostim Representative; Charles Schwartz, M.D.; Michele DeGregorio, M.D.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Von Lozon
Pager: (248) 725-2400
von.lozon@trinity-health.org
 

PONTIAC, Mich. (Dec. 15, 2025) – Trinity Health Oakland announced it was the first hospital in Michigan to successfully implant the world’s first FDA-approved heart failure device to use neuromodulation (the power of the brain and nervous system) to improve the symptoms of patients with systolic heart failure. This therapy was designed to treat heart failure patients who may not be receiving adequate symptom relief from medications alone.

Implantation of the Barostim™ Baroreflex Activation Therapy device took place at Trinity Health Oakland, where it was introduced by Interventional Cardiologist, Michele DeGregorio, M.D., and first performed by Charles Schwartz, M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive valve repair and replacement, coronary artery surgery and the surgical correction of thoracic aneurysms.

Unlike other heart failure device therapies, Barostim does not implant anything in the heart or blood vessels. Instead, it is a small device, similar to a pacemaker, that is placed under the skin of the chest wall. It works by electrically stimulating baroreceptors, natural sensors located in the wall of the carotid artery, that tell the nervous system how to regulate heart, kidney and vascular function. These effects reduce the heart’s workload and help it pump more efficiently, helping to restore balance to the autonomic nervous system and improve the symptoms of heart failure. Barostim, used in coordination with heart failure medications, has been shown to improve exercise capacity and quality of life, helping patients return to their daily activities.

“I’m really excited to bring this new procedure to our patients and the communities we serve,” said Dr. Schwartz. “Our team has worked incredibly hard to build a regionally leading cardiology and cardiac surgery program that combines advanced expertise with cutting-edge tools to help our patients live longer, healthier lives. We’re now performing procedures that would have seemed unimaginable just a decade ago, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of these innovations.”

People with heart failure often experience shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling in lower extremities, weakness, and the reduced ability to perform physical activity. In the United States, heart failure is estimated to affect 6.9 million adults and is expected to increase by 24% to nearly 8.5 million by 2030. Overall, heart failure is associated with a four-fold increased risk of death and a six to nine times increased risk of sudden cardiac death.

“Introducing this new technology to patients represents a major advancement in heart care, not just in Oakland County but across the country,” said Dr. DeGregorio. “By leveraging the body’s own nervous system to improve heart function, we are elevating the standard of care patients receive and sending them home with a better quality of life.”

Trinity Health Oakland delivers advanced heart care for patients across southeast Michigan, offering comprehensive services to diagnose, treat, and manage all forms of cardiovascular disease. A multidisciplinary team of experts provides treatments for structural conditions -- such as those affecting the heart’s valves, chambers, muscle, walls, and major arteries -- as well as non-structural issues including coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and heart failure.

For more information about heart and vascular-related services at Trinity Health Michigan or to request an appointment with a cardiovascular expert, please visit Cardiovascular | Trinity Health Michigan.