Jonathan Kiev, MD, is a respected Lexington, Kentucky, cardiothoracic surgeon who guides AOK Medical Device Innovations. A core focus of Jonathan Kiev, MD, has been designing surgical and medical devices that meet the needs of hospital patients and first responders.

One piece of equipment he stands behind is the PCAD, which stands as the only approved disposable percutaneous circulatory assist device on the market. Designed to facilitate both pericardial drain placement and sentesis, it eliminates the need for other surgical instruments in this process.

The PCAD’s design is also optimized for the expeditious evacuation of pericardial fluid collections. This makes it optimal for addressing potentially fatal atrial compressive issues such as pericardial tamponade, or fluids filling the sac that surrounds the heart.

A key component of the PCAD is a self-contained syringe designed to enable sterile fluid analysis, which is a precursor to guidewire and indwelling catheter draining. Ergonomic and lightweight, the PCAD effectively combines a number of distinct applications that are traditionally performed individually. This makes it highly useful in emergency room settings, as well as cath labs and interventional radiology suites, where efficiency in care is essential.