The Heart Failure Treatment and Transplant Program is home
to one of the nation’s busiest and most respected mechanical
cardiac support centers. Our reputation as a center of excellence
has made the Saint Barnabas Heart Center at Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center a principle site for numerous investigational
trials that offer patients the benefit of innovative mechanical
assist devices as temporary support, a bridge to transplant
or destination therapy.
The team's expertise has allowed Newark Beth Israel Medical
Center to offer virtually all FDA-approved and investigational
implantable ventricular assist devices (VADs) for more than
16 years. During 2008, more than 50 VADs were implanted as
a bridge to heart transplant, long-term therapy (destination
therapy), or as a temporary support that allows the heart
to rest and heal.
- HeartMate XVE
- HeartMate II (ranked seventh in the nation for the number
of devices implanted)
- Impella
- Terumo DuraHeart (Investigational)
- Thoratec IVAD/PVAD
- Ventrassist (Investigational)
- The mechanical circulatory assist device program at Newark
Beth Israel Medical Center received VAD for Destination
Therapy Certification from The Joint Commission in February
2009. The Joint Commission certification process aims to
ensure safe, high quality care and services. Certification
was granted after a rigorous two-day survey of the mechanical
circulatory assist device for destination therapy program
including a review of policies, procedures, staff credentials,
as well as quality and outcome data.
- Newark Beth Israel was the first to introduce the use
of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) in New Jersey
in 1993 and remains one of the East Coast’s principal
centers for implantation of the latest generation of mechanical
assist devices that replace a diseased heart’s pumping
action.
- Margarita Camacho, MD, chairs the Society
of Thoracic Surgeons national Workforce on the Surgical
Treatment of End-Stage Cardiopulmonary Disease.
- Margarita Camacho, MD, is spearheading
simulated computer VAD training in partnership with the
Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
- Mark J. Zucker, MD, JD, has been involved
in the application of mechanical assist devices since the
1980s and remains one of the nation’s most experienced
cardiologists in the field.
- Tony Martin, APRN-BC, initiated the
first international society of ventricular assist clinicians.
With over 200 members in 10 countries, the International
Consortium of Circulatory Assist Clinicians (ICCAC) is
dedicated to setting the standard of care and improving
outcomes in patients treated with mechanical circulatory
assist devices.
- The Journal of Heart Transplantation was initiated
at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and has since become
the highly regarded Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation,
the official journal of the International Society for Heart
and Lung Transplantation.
The Saint Barnabas Heart Center at Newark Beth Israel Medical
Center is one of only six centers in the United States selected
to participate in the early phase trials of the world’s
most advanced ventricular assist system. New technology
applied in the DuraHeart® is designed to improve circulation
while reducing complications.
The unique design of the DuraHeart® reduces friction,
mechanical wear and injury to blood cells that flow through
it. Furthermore, instead of the single constant blood flow
rate provide by other VADs, the DuraHeart’s blood flow
rate varies with the physiological demands of the body.
Approved by the FDA in June 2008, the Impella is the only
ventricular assist device that can be placed minimally invasively
through a catheter-based procedure.
Unlike VADs placed via open-heart surgery that can remain
implanted for several months or even years, the Impella provides
temporary support measured in hours or days. The technology
has several applications. Getting enough blood and oxygen
to the body after a heart attack is crucial to survival.
Studies have shown that use of the device can reduce or limit
heart muscle damage after a heart attack by maintaining good
blood circulation while the heart is allowed to rest and
recover.
The Impella also provides a new treatment option in the
catheterization lab. For people with poor cardiac function
who are considered too high risk for traditional catheterization,
the Impella can be utilized as a temporary circulatory support
during interventional coronary and valve procedures.
Richard, a 57-year-old father from South Orange, NJ, is
living comfortably at home while he waits for a heart transplant.
Richard’s VAD was implanted when his cardiomyopathy
became so severe that his heart could not pump enough blood
and oxygen to the rest of his body. Richard’s kidneys
and other organs had started to shut down.
“It got me out of bed and out of the hospital,” said
Richard. “With the VAD I can live at home, walk to
the store, and go to the movies. It has given me freedom
while I wait for a heart transplant.”
Although he is eligible for a heart transplant, 51-year-old
Clem of West Milford, NJ has chosen a VAD as
the treatment for his heart condition. After 2 1/2 years
with a VAD, Clem is playing golf, attending his daughter’s
basketball games and planning vacation.
“I enjoy not having to think about my heart
everyday,” said Clem.
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