Are you living with heart failure? Are current medications and lifestyle changes not enough to support your daily activities? If the answers are yes, a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) may be a suitable treatment option for improving your blood circulation, tolerance to physical activity, and overall quality of life.
What is an LVAD?
An LVAD is a small, surgically implantable mechanical pump designed to improve the heart’s ability to circulate blood. It can be used in advanced heart failure for people who may require short- or long-term circulatory pump support. An LVAD is a life-sustaining technology that can replace the need for a heart transplant or help with symptoms until a donor heart becomes available.
Advanced heart care at Maimonides The award-winning Heart and Vascular Institute at Maimonides Health is Brooklyn’s premier mechanical cardiac support center. Our LVAD Program has served and improved the lives of many people who were living with the symptoms of advanced heart failure.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the HeartMate 3 device we currently use for treating advanced heart failure. Our program’s commitment to safety, quality, compassionate care, and positive patient outcomes has been acknowledged with advanced certification from The Joint Commission. This honor reflects our resilient efforts to improve the lives of people living with advanced heart failure and to set the standard for mechanical circulatory support in the region.
Our expert team
Our patient-centered cardiology team is dedicated to providing comprehensive care for people with advanced heart failure. The team includes board-certified cardiologists, who specialize in diagnosing and managing heart conditions, and board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons, who are skilled in performing the surgical implantation of LVADs.
Additionally, our cardiothoracic intensive care (CTICU) nurses deliver expert care and monitoring during the critical postoperative period. Nurse practitioners work collaboratively with physicians and nurses to manage your ongoing health needs and ensure continuity of care. LVAD coordinators play a crucial role in supporting patients and their families throughout the entire process—from presurgical education to postoperative follow-up, helping you navigate each step of your LVAD journey.
Is LVAD right for me?
- Are you frequently readmitted to the hospital?
- Are you unable to work due to your advanced heart failure symptoms?
- Are you unable to tolerate your heart failure medications?
- Do you experience shortness of breath or fluid buildup despite optimal treatment?
- Are you being considered for a heart transplant?
- Are you not eligible for a transplant, but you, your loved ones, and your team want to improve your survival and quality of life?
If the answer is yes to any of these questions, consult your cardiologist now to determine if an LVAD is the right treatment option for you. After being referred, an advanced heart failure cardiologist will initiate a workup. Our comprehensive multidisciplinary team will assess your overall heart failure status, physical well-being, ability to take blood thinners, social support, psychosocial evaluation, and capacity to care for an LVAD. Maimonides Health’s Brooklyn-based LVAD Program hosts quarterly support groups, where current and former LVAD patients come together to share their stories and impart their knowledge of living with an LVAD. If you have further questions, join us in the support group by calling 718-283-5243.
Our team gave Lynette a second chance
Life with an LVAD
With the improved circulation that an LVAD provides, you can improve your quality of life. You may experience a vast reduction of heart failure symptoms due to an increase in blood flow, oxygen, and nutrient delivery to your body’s essential organs. The improvements in overall health may enable you to resume various enjoyable activities, such as walking, spending time with family and friends, traveling, playing golf, or even returning to light desk duty/work.
Frequently asked questions about LVAD
What should I expect? • Start by scheduling an evaluation with our cardiology team at 718-283-5243, who will evaluate and discuss options to improve your health. Next, a meeting will be held between you and our cardiothoracic surgical team to discuss the various available devices and surgical options that are suitable for you. An LVAD coordinator or nurse clinician will meet with you and your family to review the LVAD therapy and address all relevant questions about your care.
What should I expect?
Start by scheduling an evaluation with our cardiology team at 718-283-5243, who will evaluate and discuss options to improve your health. Next, a meeting will be held between you and our cardiothoracic surgical team to discuss the various available devices and surgical options that are suitable for you. An LVAD coordinator or nurse clinician will meet with you and your family to review the LVAD therapy and address all relevant questions about your care.
Which LVAD program is right for you?
Choosing the nearest LVAD program will vastly improve your overall quality of life, as it decreases travel time to clinic appointments and helps you reach your medical team faster than traveling outside of the borough. We provide comprehensive family support through our excellent LVAD Program for you and your loved ones.
Who will help me troubleshoot VAD equipment issues?
Our Maimonides LVAD Program has someone on call 24/7 to assist with medical and equipment emergencies.
How long do these heart pumps last?
The answer dependends on multiple variables that your surgeon will go over with you before your implant. These devices are meant to either bridge you with short-term therapy to a heart transplant (if you are a candidate) or extend your life and improve your heart failure symptoms. Some patients have been living with an LVAD for over 10 years.
