Advanced heart failure treatment options at East Jefferson are designed
to manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and slow disease progression.
The approach to treatment is highly individualized, considering the severity
of heart failure, underlying causes, the patient’s overall health,
and their preferences. In some cases, advanced procedures such as heart
transplantation or mechanical circulatory support, are considered to address
the multifaceted nature of this condition.
Cardiac shock is a life-threatening condition where the heart cannot pump
enough blood to meet the body's needs leading to inadequate blood flow
to vital organs. The most common causes are heart attacks and heart failure.
Cardiac shock is an emergent condition that can lead to organ failure.
Emergency treatment may include medications, mechanical assistive devices,
interventional procedures, surgery, or transplant.
Mechanical circulatory support devices help your heart pump blood through
the circulatory system when it is not working at its best. Our heart and
vascular team offer the latest technology and most advanced heart support
options in assistive heart pump devices that are much smaller, more efficient,
safer, and easier to implant than in years past. Our experienced doctors
work with many types of mechanical support devices and circulatory pumps
available.
Aortic balloon pump An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is a mechanical
device that helps the heart pump blood. A catheter with a balloon on the
end is inserted in a blood vessel to the heart. The balloon inflates and
deflates in the same rhythm as the heart. Generally, an IABP is used for
heart emergencies on a temporary basis to treat severe heart failure until
the proper treatment path is decided. Long-term follow-up treatment may
be needed.
Microaxial flow pump A microaxial flow pump consists of a catheter-mounted
internal motorized pump which provides continuous blood flow from the
left ventricle across the aortic valve into the ascending aorta. It improves
arterial pressure and decreases both left ventricle pressure and volume,
resulting in cardiac unloading. This procedure can be used as a short-term
and longer-term pump for patient heart support while being evaluated for
heart replacement therapies or during the recovery process.
Blood flow pump Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a type of
life support. Extracorporeal means "outside of the body." For
serious heart failure, injuries, or if the heart or lungs are too weak
to work properly, ECMO constantly pumps blood out of your body and then
sends it through devices that add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. It
then pumps the blood back into your body. You may need ECMO if you have
damage to your heart muscle from trauma or heart diseases. Our heart and
vascular experts may use ECMO for patient’s waiting for a heart
transplant.
Left ventricle pump A left ventricular assistive device (LVAD) is a pump
used for patients who have reached end-stage heart failure. Our cardiac
surgeons surgically implant the LVAD, a battery-operated, mechanical pump,
which helps the left ventricle (main pumping chamber of the heart) pump
blood to the rest of the body. LVAD devices are now portable, so you can
return home and continue your normal activities. LVADs are used for:
Bridge-to-transplant therapy - This life sacving therapy for patients awaiting
a heart transplant. Patients use LVAD until a heart becomes available.
In some cases, the LVAD can restore a failing heart, eliminatingthe need
for a transplant.
Destination therapy - Some patients are not candidates for heart transplants.
In this case, patients can receive long-term treatment using an LVAD,
which can prolong and improve patients' lives.
Heart transplants
There are many reasons why you may need advanced heart therapy, but they
all boil down to one common feature: The heart can’t perform its
pumping function. When all other treatments and therapies are unsuccessful,
a heart transplant may be an option to enhance the quality and length
of life for people with advanced heart failure. Heart transplantation
involves surgically replacing the diseased heart with a new one to restore
normal function and requires lifelong medications and management to prevent
rejection. Consideration for heart transplantation becomes necessary for
patients who are failing maximal medical therapy and in whom surgery or
placement of a VAD device is unlikely to be beneficial:
When advanced heart disease and treatments cannot pump enough blood to
support your body's needs.
When arrhythmias cause a severe irregular heartbeat.
When cardiomyopathy causes the heart muscle to become diseased, enlarged,
or rigid, causing the heart to not pump blood effectively.
When congenital heart disease, a heart defect, is present at birth.
When coronary artery disease narrows the blood vessels that supply blood
and nutrients to the heart.
When heart valve disease causes one or more of your four heart valves to
not work properly.
East Jefferson Heart & Vascular Care participates in the United Network
of Organ Sharing (UNOS)
Heart Transplant Program. This is a vital nationwide centralized database
for organ donations and organ recipients. Get the facts to better understand
how organ donations work.
Tulane Transplant Institute at East Jefferson General
When you choose your organ transplant team, you choose a team for life.
We understand that having an organ transplant is a life-long journey,
not a one-time event. Delivering the highest standard of transplant services
in the Gulf South and now, as part of the East Jefferson and LCMC Health
family, Tulane Transplant Institute’s legacy of life continuously
pioneers the latest in transplant care. Now located at East Jefferson,
we’re bringing next level technology, expertise, support, care environment,
and patient access to our transplant services.
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