Heart Failure

When you choose Ochsner, you gain a dedicated team of experts. We bring together the region's most experienced transplant cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and other specialists who work together for you. This team includes:

1. Heart transplant specialists
2. Cardiovascular surgeons
3. Interventional cardiologists
4. Electrophysiologists
5. Nurse practitioners and coordinators
6. Social workers
7. Pharmacists
8. Dietitians

We believe in a team approach, which means your referring physician remains a vital part of your care journey with us.

We provide complete management for all stages of congestive heart failure. Our program uses innovative technologies and therapies to create the best possible treatment plan for you. We understand that your needs go beyond the physical, which is why your customized plan also supports your mental and emotional well-being.

Our services include:

1. Advanced diagnostic procedures: Using both non-invasive and invasive methods to understand your specific condition
2. Treatments: We use special medicines to help your heartbeat stronger, offer therapies for your heart’s electrical system and provide new types of medicine to treat heart failure
3. Ventricular assist devices: Providing short- and long-term devices, including surgical and less invasive options, to help your heart function
4. Cutting-edge surgery: Performing innovative surgical procedures to improve heart health
5. Cardiac rehabilitation: Creating personalized programs to help you regain strength and confidence
6. Ongoing education: Empowering you with disease management education in both hospital and clinic settings
7. Heart transplant: Offering a path forward for eligible patients through our renowned transplant program

For patients with advanced heart failure, a heart transplant can be a life-saving option when other treatments are no longer effective. Ochsner’s Heart Transplant Program is a leader in providing this critical care, offering hope and a path forward for those with severe heart conditions.

As the only Medicare-approved heart transplant program in Louisiana, Ochsner performs over 20 heart transplants each year. Since 1970, when the first heart transplant in the Gulf South was performed at Ochsner, more than 1,000 patients have undergone this life-saving procedure with us.

Our program is designed to support heart failure patients at every stage of their journey, offering:

• Comprehensive care: From evaluation and preparation to post-transplant recovery, our team is with you every step of the way.
• Advanced technologies: We provide access to ventricular assist devices (VADs), which can serve as a bridge to transplantation for patients waiting for a donor heart.
• Expert team: Our multidisciplinary team includes transplant cardiologists, surgeons, and specialists who work together to deliver the best possible outcomes.

If you’ve been told you may need a heart transplant due to advanced heart failure, Ochsner is here to guide you through the process. 

For patients with advanced heart failure, ventricular assist devices (VADs) can be a life-saving option when the heart is no longer able to pump blood effectively on its own. These devices, including left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), support heart function and blood flow, helping patients manage their condition and improve their quality of life.

VADs are often used as a "bridge to transplantation" for patients waiting for a donor heart, especially with national heart transplant wait times ranging from days to years. They can also serve as a long-term solution for patients who are not eligible for a transplant.

At the John Ochsner Heart & Vascular Institute at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, we have been providing ventricular assist device implantation since 1990. As the only hospital in Louisiana offering this advanced technology, we are proud to deliver this life-saving treatment to heart failure patients across the Gulf South.

Learn more about how ventricular assist devices can help manage advanced heart failure.

Heart failure can develop gradually, and recognizing the early signs is important for timely treatment. Common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath during everyday activities or while lying down
• Persistent fatigue or weakness
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Difficulty concentrating or feeling lightheaded

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider. Early diagnosis and treatment can help manage the condition and improve your quality of life.

Pulmonary hypertension is a condition where the blood pressure in the lungs' arteries is higher than normal. This increased pressure forces the heart to work harder to pump blood through the lungs, which can weaken the heart over time and lead to heart failure.

At Ochsner, we specialize in diagnosing and treating pulmonary hypertension to prevent or manage its impact on heart health. Our team participates in groundbreaking research and clinical trials, offering innovative treatments such as oral, inhaled, subcutaneous, and intravenous therapies. For advanced cases, lung transplantation may also be an option.

To support you throughout your journey, we provide ongoing care through nurse-led support groups and clinic-based education sessions, ensuring you have the resources to manage your condition effectively.

Cardiac amyloidosis, also known as "stiff heart syndrome," is a rare but significant cause of heart failure. It occurs when abnormal proteins build up in the heart, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively. This condition is often underdiagnosed but can lead to advanced heart failure if left untreated.

At Ochsner, our Cardiac Amyloidosis Program provides rapid diagnosis, multidisciplinary management and access to new therapies for treating amyloidosis, including amyloid cardiomyopathy. Until recently, patients in the Gulf South had to travel outside the region for care, but now, world-class treatment is available right here at Ochsner.