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Ventricular Assist Device Program

Vanderbilt Heart’s ventricular assist device (VAD) program offers a range of devices for end-stage heart failure patients whose medical management is failing. 

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are implanted, mechanical devices that pump blood through the body when your heart is too weak. For some patients, a VAD is a bridge until heart transplant. For others, VADs may serve them for the rest of their lives.

Our VAD team includes specialists in several areas dedicated to improving survival and quality of life in patients with advanced heart failure through clinical programs, research, and innovation
 

Conditions We Treat

Ventricular assist devices can support patients with heart failure due to a range of conditions, including:

Meet Your Care Team

Duc Q. Nguyen

Duc Q. NguyenMD

    Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Medicine, Coronary Heart Disease, Heart Assist Devices, Heart Transplantation
Ashish S. Shah
4.9

Ashish S. ShahMD

    Aortic Center, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiac Tumors, Cardiac Valve Disease, Heart Assist Devices, Heart Valve Center, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy & Inherited Disease
John M. Trahanas
4.7

John M. TrahanasMD

    Aortic Aneurysms, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiac Transplantation, Cardiac Valve Disease, Coronary Heart Disease, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/TAVR, Transplant
Kaushik Amancherla

Kaushik AmancherlaMD

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Douglas M. Brinkley
4.9

Douglas M. BrinkleyJr, MD

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy & Inherited Disease, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Furrukh S. Malik

Furrukh S. MalikMD

    Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiovascular Medicine, Hypertension, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Jonathan N. Menachem
4.9

Jonathan N. MenachemMD

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Henry H. Ooi

Henry H. OoiMD

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, General Cardiology, Heart Transplantation
Dawn M. Pedrotty
4.9

Dawn M. PedrottyMD, PhD

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Lynn R. Punnoose
4.8

Lynn R. PunnooseMD

    Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Aniket S. Rali
4.7

Aniket S. RaliMD

    Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, Cardiogenic Shock and Critical Care Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Suzanne B. Sacks
4.8

Suzanne B. SacksMD, MS

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Kelly H. Schlendorf
4.9

Kelly H. SchlendorfMD, MHS

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Hasan K. Siddiqi
4.9

Hasan K. SiddiqiMD, MSCI

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Lynne W. Stevenson

Lynne W. StevensonMD

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy & Inherited Disease, Inherited Cardiovascular Disease-Genetics, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Mark A. Wigger
5

Mark A. WiggerMD

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Sandip K. Zalawadiya
4.7

Sandip K. ZalawadiyaMBBS

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Transplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Rachel Allison

Rachel AllisonAGACNP-BC

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support
April S. Edwards

April S. EdwardsNP

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Ryan A. Gant

Ryan A. GantAPN, MSN

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Ashlee S. Piercey

Ashlee S. PierceyNP

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Douglas C. West

Douglas C. WestMSN, ANP-BC

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart and Vascular, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Amanda L. Whiteman Baker

Amanda L. Whiteman BakerAPRN

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support
Meghann D. Wilson

Meghann D. WilsonACNP

    Cardiovascular Medicine, Congestive Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support

Why Choose Ventricular Assist Device Program at Vanderbilt

  • medical chart, clipboard, cross, Knowledge and experience
    Knowledge and experience

    Vanderbilt Health is one of the top heart transplant programs in the world, providing patients with outstanding outcomes and access to innovative new research and treatments. We have implanted more than 500 ventricular assist devices. Our team offers a multidisciplinary patient centered approach to care. We are dedicated to improving quality of life of advanced heart failure patient through research and innovation.

  • caduceus, Depth of expertise, excellent outcomes
    Excellent outcomes

    Our left ventricular assist device program outcomes regularly exceed national standards.

  • laboratory, test tubes, Advanced treatment
    Advanced treatment

    We offer mechanical support options while you wait for a heart transplantor sometimes instead of a transplant. For example, a ventricular assist device (VAD) allows you to live normally at home. As one of the first hospitals in the Southeast to offer VADs, we’ve implanted more than 500, including implanting the first total artificial heart in 2018. We were also among the first to provide extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for patients with severe conditions.

  • lightning bolt, Innovation, advanced
    Innovation

    Our VAD team specializes in many cutting-edge treatments including minimally invasive surgeries and non-invasive procedures performed while on VAD support. The VAD program also leads many innovative programs such as VAD optimization, Heart Recovery with VAD, Remote Heart Monitoring with VAD and Weight loss with VAD.

  • health, heart, badge, Veterans care, community support
    Veterans care

    We are one of only five advanced heart failure and VAD programs designated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide heart transplants to our nation’s veterans.

  • health, circle, cross, Comprehensive care
    Comprehensive care

    Vanderbilt VAD program is a multispecialty program that provides comprehensive care to all patients. Through a unique collaboration between various disciplines of medicine and surgery, we offer specialized care for those with adult congenital heart disease, heart arrhythmias and obesity. We were the first program in the state of Tennessee to offer Total Artificial Heart for biventricular failure and the only program in Tennessee to offer bariatric surgery for weight loss while on VAD support.

  • diploma, award, ribbon, Recognized care, quality
    Recognized care

    Vanderbilt is consistently ranked among the nation’s best by leading authorities on health care quality. People from throughout the Southeast and across the country rely on us for the best and most innovative care possible. 

  • conference, Team approach, people, staff, partners
    Team approach

    We work together to ensure that you receive the comprehensive care you need. Our team members collaborate with each other, as well as with experts in other medical disciplines, to provide you with individual care that addresses your unique needs.

Tests, Treatments and Services

We offer a full range of tests, treatments and services, including:
  • Ventricular assist devices (VADs)
  • Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)

Locations

1215 21st Avenue South, 5th Floor
Nashville, TN 37232
11440 Parkside Drive, Suite 205
Knoxville, TN 37934

Patient Resources