According to the American Heart Association, there are 5,000,000 people diagnosed with congestive heart failure in America and 550,000 new cases reported each year. Optimal medical management provides some relief of heart failure symptoms and even may be able to slow down and reverse disease processes. Unfortunately, when the disease progresses, there are not many options available.

Learn more about the VAD program on this Shands video HealthCast

In the last 20 years, implantable mechanical assist devices, called Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs), became available as an alternative treatment option for heart failure patients.

Read the Frequently Asked Questions about the VAD program.

Shands VAD Program clinical trials

Shands at the University of Florida has been a leader in the area of  VADs for over 20 years.  We have been a clinical trial site for all of the most advanced pumps available, and were the only trial site in Florida for the Heartmate 2 Ventricular Assist Device Destination Therapy clinical trial.  Our participation in the research of this advanced heart pump was instrumental in their receiving FDA approval recently for Destination Therapy.

For more information on this new technology, visit   www.thoratec.com.

Shands continues to participate in clinical research trials for both Bridge to Cardiac Transplantation as well as Destination Therapy. The team at Shands is committed to offering the most technologically advanced therapy available for advanced heart failure patients.

Information

If you are interested in more information regarding the VAD program at Shands, contact the Heart Failure and Heart Transplant office at (352) 265-0751.

Heart Care at Shands at UF

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About Heart Care at Shands at UF

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Make an Appointment

To make a new patient appointment or find out more information about heart care services offered at Shands at the University of Florida, please call 352.265.0943 .

You may also email our Consultation Center (consult@shands.ufl.edu) or use our secure online form.