UPMC Artificial Heart Program

• Our Treatment Team
• Research at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
• Contact Us
• Vital Engineering
• Heart Assist Devices 

In 1985, the first artificial heart device – the Jarvik Artificial Heart – was implanted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Five years later, UPMC became the first medical center ever to discharge a patient on a ventricular-assist device (VAD). Since these milestones, UPMC’s Artificial Heart Program has treated more than 400 patients with mechanical circulatory support devices and has continued to uphold its long history as an international leader in this field.

The Artificial Heart Program at UPMC advances the field of mechanical circulatory support through clinical innovations achieved in various areas:

• manage of acute cardiogenic shock
• improvement of assessment standards for patient candidacy
• refinement of criteria for appropriate device selection
• complex post-implant patient management
• identification of cardiac recovery
• development of MCS device weaning protocols
• education and management of patients in outpatient settings
• assessment of new technology
  

Technical innovation continues in the laboratory as well as at the bedside, ranging from new pump designs to improved current designs through fluid-flow field visualization. Through its combination of a superb clinical program and first-rate technical resources, UPMC has succeeded in vastly improving both patient survival and quality of life after implantation with mechanical circulatory support devices.

Our Treatment Team

Robert L. Kormos, MD, is director of the UPMC Artificial Heart Program and Michael P. Siegenthaler, MD, is associate director of the program. Dr. Kormos, Dr. Siegenthaler, and a team of cardiac surgeons at UPMC provide the knowledge and skill necessary for patient selection, device implantation surgery, and post-operative care.

Cardiac surgeons are closely involved in evaluating patients for suitability to receive a heart-assist device and for eventual heart transplantation. The surgeons perform the donor and transplant operations and manage any surgical decisions.

• Christian Bermudez, MD
• Kenneth R. McCurry, MD
• Yoshiya Toyoda, MD

Cardiologists with expertise in the care of congestive heart failure patients participate in preoperative selection of suitable heart-assist devices in addition to managing medical treatment and stabilizing the patient before surgery. These physicians also provide ongoing support in the management of medical issues during the time a patient is supported with a device, or until they receive a transplant or recover.

• Rene J. Alvarez, Jr., MD
• Linda Marie Cadaret, MD
• Barry London, MD, PhD 
• Michael A. Mathier, MD
• Dennis M. McNamara, MD
• Ravi N. Ramani, MD
• Marc Simon, MD
• Jeffrey J. Teuteberg, MD

Biomedical engineers from Vital Engineering, a UPMC program, provide assistance and support to hospital staff members who care for patients on various heart-assist devices. They perform routine checks on the devices and help transport patients to and from various medical tests.

• Doug Lohmann
• Rick Schaub
• Don Severyn
• Steve Winowich

Clinical nursing staff at UPMC provide care before, during, and after the patient receives a heart-assist device. They assess the patient's physical condition, explain the risks and benefits of various assist devices, and advise about any complications that may occur. In addition, they help to educate the patient and family about the heart-assist device. When the patient is able to be discharged from the hospital, the nursing staff help to instruct the family members in providing care.

• Lori DeGore, RN, BSN
• Kathy Lockard, RN, MBA, CCTC
• Genevieve O'Shea, RN, BSN
• Paul Schwarm, RN, BSN, CCRN

Physical therapists assess the patient’s functional level, including evaluation of the patient’s ability to walk and exercise. This assessment allows the physical therapist to set treatment goals in the rehabilitation process after VAD implantation. As the patient makes progress, the physical therapist develops a program of home exercise to improve the patient's physical condition.

Occupational therapists assesses the patient’s functional level, including evaluation of the patient’s ability to perform the activities of daily living, such as getting dressed, preparing meals, and other everyday tasks. Like the physical therapist, the occupational therapist provides instruction in for a home program to improve the patient’s physical condition and capacity for self-care.

Respiratory therapists evaluate the patient’s respiratory care needs before, during, and after implantation of the heart-assist device. They also give medications, inhalers, and breathing exercises to help the lungs become strong and remain clear. If needed, they also make recommendations to the physician about home oxygen.

Technicians provide support for patients who have a temporary device known as an intraoperative balloon pump (IABP). They also transport heart-assist patients to surgery, perform routine checks on heart-assist devices, and assist the biomedical engineers in providing support to patients with heart-assist devices.

Contact Us

For those who are already patients of the UPMC Artificial Heart Program, two program staff members (a nurse and a biomedical engineer) are on call at all times to respond to questions and concerns.

Patients who have misplaced the call schedule should call the UPMC hospital switchboard at 412-647-2345 and ask the operator to page the artificial heart technician.