We have performed over 1,000 heart transplants to date, joining only a handful of programs around the country that have reached this level of expertise and volume. Our successful outcomes reflect that experience. Our average 1 and 3-year survival rates for adult heart transplant patients are 94.74% and 91.88% respectively, which are higher than the national average. Ochsner consistently ranks among the highest performing centers in the U.S. What’s more, we take on some of the most complex cases.

National Level Care in New Orleans

If you live in the Gulf South, there is no reason to travel cross country for a heart transplant. Our patients receive the highest level of care available. In fact, people travel here from all over the region every year to have their transplants. Here are some of the reasons why patients feel confident having heart transplants in New Orleans:

• Ochsner’s Heart Transplant Program is the only heart transplant program in Louisiana, and it’s a Center of Excellence for many insurers.
  • We are also home to the only pediatric heart transplant program in the state. Learn more.
  • Ochsner surgeons completed the first heart transplant in the region 47 years ago, as well as the first total artificial heart procedure in Louisiana and the Gulf South.
  • Our team performs dual organ transplants, such as heart and kidney transplants. In 2018, we performed the first heart/liver transplant in the Gulf South.
  • Ochsner is a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
  • Our LVADs (left ventricular assist devices) Program is one of the largest in the country. LVADs are oftentimes used as a bridge to heart transplantation. Learn more.
  • Ochsner has successfully completed its 1,000^th heart transplant. Ochsner joins the ranks of 13 other prestigious health care systems across the United States to have reached this milestone. Learn more.

Meet the Team

Our team includes experienced cardiovascular surgeons, transplant cardiologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, transplant coordinators, social workers, financial coordinators, pharmacists and dietitians. They work together to provide care that is personal as well as world class. What’s more, we offer psychological and financial counseling for transplant patients and their families before and after transplants.

Meet the Team

Sapna V. Desai, MD
Section Head, Cardiomyopathy and Heart Transplantation, Medical Director, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program

P. Eugene Parrino, MD
Section Head, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Aditya Bansal, MD
Surgical Director, Thoracic Transplant & Mechanical Assist Device Circulatory Support Programs

Selim R. Krim, MD, FACC, FHFSA
Medical Director, Heart Transplant Program

Clement Eiswirth Jr, MD
Medical Director, Cardiomyopathy and Heart failure Program

Hector O. Ventura, MD, FACC, FHFSA

James Wever Pinzon, MD

Transplant Cardiologist

Stephen Spindel, MD

Heart Transplant Surgeon

Leslie C. Stephens, PA
System Lead Advanced Practice Provider for Cardiology

Sean Fitzsimmons, NP

Transplant Cardiology

Carin Tannehill, NP

Transplant Cardiology

Stephanie Ledet, PA

Transplant Cardiology

Elise Creed, PA

Transplant Cardiology

Kaitlyn M. Reine, PA

Transplant Cardiology

Amanda L. Burke, NP

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Kimberly J. Craddock, PA

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Conditions

The number one reason people need a heart transplant is severe coronary artery disease with scarred heart tissue from a heart attack. There are multiple reasons why patients need a heart transplant. They include the following:

• Severe coronary artery disease with scarred heart tissue from a heart attack
• Arrhythmia
• Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Congenital heart failure
• Congestive heart failure
• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Heart failure
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Restrictive myopathy
• Valvular heart disease

What Referring Physicians Need to Know

The Ochsner Transplant Center provides consistent follow-up information to all referring physicians via written correspondence. You’ll be kept abreast of initial clinic visits, surgery, hospital discharge and routine follow-up visits to the clinic. After surgery, our team continues to monitor for transplant-related complications and regulates maintenance immunosuppression.

While we monitor our heart transplant patients for a lifetime, as a patient nears the one-year anniversary of their transplant, we encourage them to reestablish care with their referring physician. We look forward took forward to sharing their care with you.

To refer a patient for transplant, call our 24-hour Referral Hotline: 1-504-842-0218 or email referrals to: HeartTransplant@Ochsner.org.

Second Opinions

In recent decades, a lot of progress has been made and heart transplants are now available to more patients. If you’ve been told you’re not a candidate for a heart transplant, or if you’re feeling rushed or unsure, we encourage you to come to Ochsner for a second opinion. Call 1-504-842-0218 today.