Advanced Heart and Lung Disease Center

There are a number of serious heart conditions that can lead to congestive heart failure, which later may require a heart transplant or ventricular assist device. The Center for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease Center offers comprehensive care for patients who need outpatient evaluation, diagnostic imaging services, educational consultation and diagnosis and treatment of more complex and/or chronic conditions pertaining to the heart and lungs. Physicians and surgeons on the center's medical staff offer quality care for even the most complex cardiovascular conditions, such as:

Amyloidosis
Complex Congenital Heart Disease
Coronary Artery Disease: Inoperable
Cardiomyopathy: Dilated
Cardiomyopathy: Hypertrophic or Restrictive (including sarcoidosis, LV non-compaction)
Cardiomyopathy: Infiltrative (including amyloidosis and hemochromatosis)
Cardiomyopathy: Ischemic
Hypoplastic Left-Heart Syndrome
Interstitial Lung Disease
Inoperable Valvular Heart Disease
Pulmonary Artery Hypertension
Refractory Life-Threatening Arrhythmias

Congestive Heart Failure

The Center for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease provides advanced treatment options for patients with heart failure symptoms who need help managing their condition on a daily basis. The goal is to improve the quality of life for patients facing the day-to-day challenges of heart failure, as well as reducing their hospital readmissions.

For patients with advanced heart failure, the Advanced Heart and Lung Disease Center offers innovative destination treatment, including a Ventricular Assist Device Program certified by the Joint Commission and Heart Transplantation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Heart Failure

What happens during a heart failure evaluation at the Center for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease?

The evaluation is used to determine two primary areas:

Evaluation for cause – This includes assessment for presence of coronary artery disease, usually via cardiac catheterization, stress testing, echocardiogram, basic laboratory tests and/or ECG. Further testing could be needed based on what is found on these screening exams.
Evaluation for factors that affect heart failure – This includes smoking, drug/alcohol use, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, abnormal heart rhythms, diabetes control, weight management, exercise, thyroid disease, anemia and sleep apnea.

What kind of treatment might be used for stiff heart or diastolic heart failure?

No medication has been shown to help a stiff heart relax and thus most therapies are aimed at controlling factors that worsen the condition such as hypertension, diabetes and sleep apnea.
Diuretics can be used to help manage swelling and fluid retention

How can I avoid getting a heart transplant?

The better you can control your heart failure and the aggravating factors, the greater the possibility that you could postpone or prevent the need for transplant or LVAD.