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and transplant program
Heart Failure program at University of Minnesota Medical Center is one of the largest and most sophisticated in the nation. Our physicians are at the forefront of a generation of breakthroughs in advanced heart failure management and heart transplant. As leaders in innovative diagnostics, treatments and research, we are committed to bringing the science and art of medicine together to provide the best possible outcomes for patients and their families.
University Minnesota Physicians and the University of Minnesota Medical Center work together to offer the most recent and promising array of treatment options to people living with advanced heart failure offering a wide range of treatment options including biventricular pacing, active drug protocols and has research underway in the use of stem-cell therapy to repair failing hearts.
In addition, University of Minnesota Medical Center is one of the largest mechanical support device programs in the country. In some patients, the clinical application of a ventricular assistance device (VAD) has mended weakened cardiac tissue, offering an opportunity to understand the molecular basis of heart failure.
In most cases, heart failure patients are seen by our specialists within three days of referral—a contributing factor to our success in keeping patients out of the hospital and in some cases, making heart transplantation unnecessary.
Our cardiologists work closely with Cardiovascular surgeons who are leaders in VAD and complex high-risk bypass surgery. They also collaborate with specialists and subspecialists dedicated to treating the co-morbidity factors contributing to heart failure, diabetes, pulmonary edema and hypertension.
A pioneer program, heart failure to transplant
• Our 30-year-old program is one of longest-running heart transplant treatment centers in the world. Our physicians have performed more than 675 heart transplants since 1978
• Our surgeons performed the first heart transplant in Minnesota in 1978 and the state’s first heart/lung transplant in 1986
• We are a national leader in implanting ventricular assist devices (VADs), performing more than 60 VADs each year
We are a recognized pioneer in mechanical circulatory support (MCS) bridge to transplantation clinical trials. We are one of a handful of sites in the nation approved to train surgeons in transplant state-of-the-art technologies that include Thoratec® HeartMate® II, Ventracor VentrAssist® LVAD, HeartWare® Ventricular Assist System and Levitronix® CentriMag® Pump
• Excellent survival rates following transplant with 75% at 5 years and 64% at 10 years are testament to our quality of care. The nation’s longest living heart transplant recipient benefited for our innovative care for more than 25 years post-surgery
• Heart failure and VAD clinical trials exploring advanced technology and medical management allow our team to remain on the cutting edge of advanced heart failure treatment options
• The University of Minnesota is one of 8 centers selected by the National Institute of Health to develop and evaluate new treatments for congestive heart failure
Learn more about heart transplant at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.
In addition to advanced heart failure services, we offer comprehensive care for every stage of cardiovascular disease, including prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and extensive cardiac rehabilitation services.
• Cardiology consultations and second opinions
• Chest pain evaluation clinic
• Heart disease prevention and wellness
• Diagnostic testing, echocardiography and nuclear imaging
• Coronary angioplasty, stenting and interventional treatments
• Evaluation and treatment for pulmonary hypertension
• Cardiothoracic surgery including heart transplantation
• An advanced cardiac rehabilitation program
• Specialty clinics for heart failure, heart rhythm disorders and women’s heart health
• Evaluation for abnormal heart rhythms, fainting, atrial fibrillation, and
the implantation of heart rhythm management devices including defibrillators and pacemakers
