University of Minnesota Physicians and University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview have played a leading role in treating patients with advanced heart failure through our ventricular assist device (VAD) program. VAD is a mechanical heart that helps a patient’s heart pump blood.

Patients with advanced heart failure have many options such as a VAD, experimental drug or assist device therapy, and/or heart transplantation. Our outcomes lead the nation in pioneering work in the use of VADs for treatment of acute myocardial infarction shock.

Since 1997 we have implanted nearly 350 device implants either as destination therapy for end-stage refractory congestive heart failure in patients not eligible for transplant, or in patients who are awaiting transplant, as a bridge to transplant. In some cases, VADs have allowed heart tissue to heal itself—making it possible to remove the device with no further surgical treatment.