The Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support (VAD and ECMO) Program brings together expert and integrated care for patients with advanced heart disease including those awaiting a heart transplant. These patients usually require mechanical circulatory support (artificial heart pumps) to provide sufficient blood flow and oxygen to vital organs which results in a better quality of life and survival rate than those on medical therapy alone.
Multidisciplinary care and continuous innovation are hallmarks of the treatment offered to advanced heart disease patients at BWH. These therapeutic breakthroughs translate to exceptional care and services.
In addition, BWH is the only New England site to participate in the landmark REMATCH (Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance for the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure) trial. The trial compared outcomes for patients managed with LVAD plus medical therapy with outcomes for patients on optimal medical therapy alone, and demonstrated a better survival rate among the LVAD group.
In 2015, the Heart & Vascular Center launched a new combined medical-surgical mechanical circulatory support (MCS) unit that offers a novel approach to care for patients that have undergone implantation of MCS devices. As a result, the average length of hospital stay was reduced by 25 percent and patient experience improved substantially as compared to patients who received MCS devices prior to the unit opening.
To make an appointment with a member of the Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program team, call (857) 307-4000.
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Physicians can make a referral to the Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program by calling (857) 307-4000.
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