Certification Helps CMC Patients Who Cannot Receive Heart Transplants
Doctors at The Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute (SHVI) at Carolinas Medical Center are now certified to implant ventricular assist devices (VADs) in order to restore heart function for patients who cannot receive transplants. These VADs can help extend the life of patients with end-stage heart failure for as many as eight to10 years.
The SHVI physicians were able to save 21-year old Steven Puth, who came to CMC in November of 2009 and was diagnosed with severe cardiomyophathy, a weakening of the heart muscle or a change in heart muscle structure. He was assessed by a heart transplant team, received a catheterization and was discharged with cardiac medications.
As his symptoms progressed, his physical condition worsened and Steven was unable to walk more than 10 to 15 steps and could only lie in bed.
Now, thanks to certification by The Joint Commission, his doctors were able to implant the HeartMate II, a VAD that helps damaged or weakened hearts adequately pump blood in order to sustain life. CMC is the only facility in the Charlotte region that has obtained VAD Destination Therapy Gold Seal of Approval by The Joint Commission, and is one of only three facilities in North Carolina with this certification. CMC and The Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute can now care for a broader population of heart failure patients.
Before 2010, VADs were implanted into patients as a “bridge” until the patient received a transplant – also known as bridge therapy. Patients can now use the VADs as a destination therapy tool, and it is possible that the new technology may take the place of heart transplants.
Through the years, cutting edge technology has taken these devices to new heights, making them smaller, increasingly dependable, and more widely available and easy to replace if the pump is damaged. Today, patients are seeing lasting successes, allowing them to return to normal, productive lives.
“When dealing with patients who require a VAD, we are dealing with life and death situations. These patients do not have other options,” explains Dr. Sanjeev Gulati, Heart Failure/Transplant Cardiologist with The Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute. “Certification allows us the ability to improve the quality of life of our patients who cannot receive transplants, and increase the number of years they will live.”
Steven received his VAD on December 26, 2009 and has entered the cardiac rehabilitation program at Carolinas Rehabilitation. He has since regained weight and muscle mass, and has developed a great positive attitude about his new change of life. Steven, who was literally on his death bed before getting married, is now able to be a husband to his wife and a father to his newborn child. In the near future he will be reevaluated as a candidate for cardiac transplant, but could potentially use his VAD as a destination tool.
