The development of smaller, more durable mechanical assist devices has caused a shift in paradigm toward earlier intervention for people with congestive heart failure (CHF). VAD placement should be considered in patients who have been hospitalized on multiple occasions for CHF over a period of six months or less.
A fully-integrated heart failure, VAD and transplant program allows patients to be considered for a complete range of options by a single team. Participation in innovative research trials offers additional advanced treatment options that are not offered at most centers. Care of all patients---- regardless of whether they are potential VAD recipients, transplant candidates or transplant recipients---- is discussed at weekly joint medical/surgical meetings.
People with VADs as destination therapy or a bridge to transplant are living life to the fullest. Many return to work, travel,
are physically active in sports and enjoy many activities that they were unable to participate in prior to implantation of the
device. More and more people are living happily with their devices.
- Newark Beth Israel is the most experienced and comprehensive advanced heart failure treatment center in New Jersey. It has been at the forefront in state-of-the-art univentricular and biventricular circulatory support for almost two decades and placed the state’s first implantable device in 1993.
- It is one of the nation’s principal centers for implantation of the latest generation of devices, placing a combined total of more than 500 devices for myocardial recovery, bridge to transplant and destination therapy.
- The team’s expertise has allowed Newark Beth Israel to offer virtually all FDA-approved and investigational implantable ventricular assist devices for more than 17 years. The latest devices are helping to expand therapy for people with smaller chest cavities, particularly women.
The broad selection of implantable VADs ensures that every patient receives the device that meets their individual needs.
- AbioMed BVS 5000 and AB5000
- CentriMag
- DuraHeart (investigational)
- HeartMate XVE
- HeartMate II (ranked seventh in the nation for the
number of devices implanted)
- HeartWare (investigational)
- MicroMed DeBakey VAD
- Thoratec IVAD/PVAD
- The team’s expertise in the placement and management of VAD therapy has made it a regional and national training center and an active clinical research site. Physicians, nurses and first responders across New Jersey seek VAD education and training from leaders in the field at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
- The program received The Joint Commission Certification for VAD for Destination Therapy in February 2009.
, has been implanting VADs for 15 years. She chairs the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Workforce on the Surgical Treatment of End-Stage Cardiopulmonary Disease and is spearheading simulated computer VAD training in partnership with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
, is one of the nation’s most experienced cardiologists in the field of mechanical circulatory support and a frequent lecturer regionally and nationally. He serves as Chair of the UNOS Heart Subcommittee effective July 2010.
, is conducting groundbreaking research in immunosuppressive medications that has gained international attention. He serves as Chair of the Scientific Council on Heart Failure and Tranplantation of the International Society for
Heart and Lung Transplantation.
, has been implanting VADs for seven years. Dr. Simsir recently joined the team at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center after serving as Director of Thoracic Transplantation and Ventricular Assist Device Programs at Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA.
, has five years experience in coordinating the care and patient education for VAD recipients. He founded the first International Society of Ventricular Assist Coordinators that currently has over 200 members in nine countries.
The Barnabas Health Heart Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center was the first in New Jersey and only the fourth program in the country to implant the DuraHeart. It is one of only six centers in the United States selected to participate in the early phase trials of the world’s most advanced VAD.
 New technology applied in the DuraHeart is designed to improve circulation while reducing complications. Its unique design reduces friction, mechanical wear and injury to blood cells that flow through it. Furthermore, instead of the single constant blood flow rate provided by other VADs, the DuraHeart’s blood flow rate varies with the physiological demands of the body.
The HeartWare pump is small enough to be implanted in the pericardial space and directly adjacent to the heart in all patients. Implantation above the diaphragm leads to relatively short surgery time and quick recovery. Its wide-blade impeller is designed to provide optimal blood flow through the system and cause minimal damage to the blood cells in the form of either thrombus or hemolysis.
The HeartMate II was approved by the FDA for bridge to transplant in 2008 and for destination therapy in 2010. It has become standard therapy in cardiac centers that do not have access to the next generation of devices through clinical research trials. Weighing 12 ounces, HeartMate II is a high-speed, axial flow, rotary blood pump that produces no pulsatile action.
-- Clem Dunnigan, age 52
-- Richard Bohan, age 57
-- Gerald Menditto, age 66
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When is the ideal time for a patient with heart failure to be evaluated for VAD therapy?
HeartWare
HeartMate II
