Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)

VADs are used to support patients with advanced heart failure and other severe heart conditions when traditional treatments are no longer effective. At Ochsner, we use VADs to treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Advanced heart failure: For patients whose heart can no longer pump blood effectively, VADs help maintain blood flow and improve organ function.
• Cardiomyopathy: This condition weakens the heart muscle, making it difficult to pump blood. VADs can provide critical support for patients with dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy.
• Post-heart attack complications: In some cases, a severe heart attack can lead to heart failure. VADs can help stabilize patients and improve their quality of life.
• Congenital heart defects: For patients with complex congenital heart conditions, VADs may be used as a bridge to transplant or as a long-term solution.
• Right heart failure: While most VADs are designed to support the left ventricle (LVADs), some patients with right-sided heart failure may benefit from specialized devices.

Each patient’s condition is unique, and our team of cardiologists and heart failure specialists will work with you to determine if a VAD is the right option for your care.

At Ochsner, we pride ourselves on developing unique patient-provider partnerships that serve your best interests and personal goals. Our multidisciplinary ventricular assist device team provides the most holistic, individualized, patient-centered care possible, including evaluation and education about your treatment options. Our providers include:

• Advanced heart failure cardiologists

• Advanced practice providers

• Cardiothoracic surgeons

• Case managers

• Dietitians

• Financial coordinators

• Nurses

• Occupational therapists

• Palliative care specialists

• Pharmacists

• Physical therapists

• Social workers

• Ventricular assist device coordinators

At Ochsner Health, we offer a range of VADs to meet the unique needs of patients with advanced heart failure. Our team of heart failure specialists carefully evaluates each patient’s condition to determine the most appropriate device. The types of VADs we use include:

• Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs): The most commonly used VAD, an LVAD supports the left ventricle, which pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. LVADs are often used for patients with left-sided heart failure and can serve as either a bridge to transplant or a long-term solution (destination therapy)
• Right Ventricular Assist Devices (RVADs): For patients with right-sided heart failure, RVADs provide support to the right ventricle, which pumps blood to the lungs for oxygenation. These devices are typically used in specific cases, such as after heart surgery or in combination with an LVAD
• Biventricular Assist Devices (BiVADs): When both the left and right ventricles need support, BiVADs are used to assist the entire heart. These devices are often a temporary solution for patients awaiting a heart transplant
• Temporary or short-term VADs: In some cases, patients may require short-term mechanical support to stabilize their condition. Ochsner offers advanced temporary devices, such as:
  • Impella: A minimally invasive device that provides temporary support for the heart during high-risk procedures or acute heart failure
  • TandemHeart: A device used for short-term support of the left or right ventricle
• Total artificial heart (TAH): For patients with end-stage biventricular heart failure, a TAH may be used as a temporary replacement for the entire heart while awaiting a transplant

At Ochsner, our expertise in using these advanced devices ensures that each patient receives the most effective treatment tailored to their specific condition. Whether you need short-term support or a long-term solution, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Ochsner is proud to play an active role in advancing ventricular assist device technology through participation in groundbreaking clinical trials, such as the completed Momentum 3 and international ARIES trials. These studies generate critical data that drive improvements in VAD technology and patient care, ensuring better outcomes for individuals with advanced heart failure.

By contributing to cutting-edge research, Ochsner not only helps shape the future of VAD treatment but also brings innovative, evidence-based care directly to our patients. This commitment allows us to develop personalized treatment plans that reflect the latest advancements in science and technology.

A ventricular assist device is a specific type of mechanical circulatory support device that helps people with advanced heart failure. If you have this chronic condition, your heart is unable to pump enough blood to the body’s organs and tissues. A ventricular assist device acts as a secondary pump for your heart. Most people need a device to support their left ventricle in the heart, a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD. But some people need a ventricular assist device for their right ventricle instead. A ventricular assist device is not a total artificial heart, a type of medical circulatory support device that pumps blood for both ventricles.

Implanting a ventricular assist device requires surgery because it has parts inside and outside your body. Inside, a mechanical pump is attached to the ventricle in the heart. Outside, a flexible cable called a driveline connects to a battery-powered controller that monitors the pumping.

Ventricular assist device technology has progressed significantly since Ochsner began implanting the devices over 30 years ago. Many patients with ventricular assist devices live for several years longer than they could have without one.

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are a life-changing option for patients with advanced heart failure when other treatments are no longer effective. There are two main groups of patients who may benefit from a VAD:

• Bridge to transplant (short-term support): For patients on the heart transplant waiting list, the wait for a donor heart can take months or even years. During this time, a VAD can help improve quality of life, prevent further damage to vital organs and keep the heart functioning until a transplant becomes available.
• Destination therapy (long-term support): For patients who are not eligible for a heart transplant, a VAD can serve as a long-term solution. It helps alleviate symptoms of heart failure, improve quality of life, and extend life expectancy.

If your Ochsner cardiologist determines that you may be a good candidate for a VAD, you will undergo a series of tests and evaluations to ensure it’s the right option for you. Common symptoms of advanced heart failure that may lead to VAD implantation include:

• Difficulty with activities of daily living
• Extreme fatigue
• Fluid buildup in the body
• Problems with kidney or liver function
• Shortness of breath

A ventricular assist device is only introduced as a treatment option when medications and other treatments are no longer providing sufficient control of the disease. Some patients will benefit from other mechanical circulatory support options instead of a ventricular assist device.