Ventricular assist devices - also known as VADs - are surgically-implanted mechanical circulatory support systems. When your own heart becomes too weak, these devices take over the responsibility of pumping blood to your body's organs and tissues. Many patients sent to our center for heart transplant evaluation are provided information about VAD implantation. Sometimes this is because a donor heart is not immediately available and the waiting time could prove detrimental to the patient's health; in this situation, the VAD will perform the heart's work until a donor heart is available and transplant can be performed. Other times, the VAD is implanted to allow the patient's own heart to rest and recover, and then the VAD is removed. In yet another type of situation, patients will receive a VAD when they cannot be considered for heart transplantation due to other health issues. The VADs remain implanted in these patients for the rest of their lives. Surogeons from FACT Surgery implant an average of 30 to 40 VADs per year. Our center is considered one of the busiest and most experienced VAD implantation centers throughout the world. | 
Florida Advanced Cardiothoracic Surgery