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If you have questions about VAD treatment at Cone Health, call 336-832-9299.

Ventricular Assist Device Therapy

Established in 2013, Moses Cone’s Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) program was the first non-transplant hospital in North Carolina to receive Destination Therapy certification by the Joint Commission. Since that time, we have implanted over 125 heart pumps.

VADs are mechanical heart pumps that pump blood for a weak, failing heart. They can help patients live longer with a better quality of life.

What’s a Ventricular Assist Device?

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) therapy may be recommended for patients with advanced heart failure. An LVAD is a mechanical heart pump placed during open heart surgery. It aides in doing the work of the weakened bottom left chamber of the heart, which is called the left ventricle.

To power the pump, a tube called the drive line passes from the internal LVAD through the skin in the patient’s abdomen and connects to a controller and a power source, like batteries or wall power. The LVAD assists with pumping blood to the rest of the body, improving heart failure symptoms and the patient’s quality of life.

Quality Care Close to Home

Trust the experience of North Carolina’s first team to offer ventricular assist device therapy in a community health setting. Rest assured you’ll receive the highest-quality care—Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital’s VAD program holds a Gold Seal of Approval™ from the Joint Commission, the nation’s premier health care accrediting agency.

Learn more about heart surgery at Cone Health.

VAD Coordinator

You’ll appreciate the personal support and guidance you receive from Cone Health’s dedicated VAD coordinators—experienced clinicians who:

  • Coordinate your care
  • Help you understand your condition
  • Teach you about your ventricular assist device
  • Explain what to expect before, during and after your VAD surgery
  • Answer your questions
  • Will see you at your follow up appointments in the VAD clinic

Long-Term Follow-Up Care

Count on your Cone Health Heart and Vascular care team to provide comprehensive long-term follow-up care to help you live as well as possible after VAD surgery. Learn about our multidisciplinary heart failure clinic.

For Referring Providers: Referral Criteria

Patients with one or more of the following risk factors and who are NYHA Class IIIB or IV should be considered for referral for advanced heart failure therapies.

  • Inability to walk one block without shortness of breath
  • Intolerant or refractory to ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or beta-blockers
  • More than 2 heart failure related hospital admissions in the past 6 months
  • BUN greater than 40mg/dL or Serum Creatinine greater than 1.8 mg/dL
  • CRT non-responder
  • High diuretic dose
  • Serum sodium less than 136 mmol/L
  • Persistently reduced EF ≤ 30% despite goal directed medical therapy

For further information regarding referrals, please reach out to the Advanced Heart Failure Clinic/VAD Coordinators at 336-832-9299.

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