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ADVANCED HEART FAILURE
The advanced heart failure team is dedicated to the treatment of advanced heart failure through its level of care and commitment to research and innovation . The multidisciplinary team includes transplant cardiologists and surgeons on the medical staff , certified heart failure nurses , transplant coordinators , dietitians , social workers , and others . Additionally , the program offers a full spectrum of therapeutic options for heart failure patients , including post-treatment care such as cardiac rehabilitation ; patient education focused on medication , lifestyle adjustments and nutrition ; and patient and family support groups .
MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT
• Largest LVAD management program in North Texas
• Baylor University Medical Center Ventricular Assist Device ( VAD ) Destination Therapy Program received the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission ’ s Disease-Specific Care Recertification Survey
• One of seven sites selected for Carmat Total Artificial Heart , a landmark clinical trial and is the only site to offer the FDA-approved total artificial heart in the area
The FDA-approved Carmat Total Artificial Heart is designed to provide a therapeutic alternative and bridge-to-transplant for patients suffering from end-stage biventricular heart failure . Dan Meyer , MD , chief of heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Baylor University Medical Center is the principal investigator for the Dallas campus trial . “ No major changes have occurred in the field of total artificial heart in decades , so we are very excited to be one of seven sites to offer access to a clinical trial for this innovative pump to our patients who qualify .”
EXTRACORPOREAL LIFE SUPPORT
Baylor University Medical Center is one of the busiest programs in the nation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , or ECMO . ECMO is a treatment in which the patient ’ s blood is reoxygenated in an artificial membrane by oxygenating the blood , removing carbon dioxide and warming the blood before returning it back to the patient . This labor-intensive treatment is amplified by the multidisciplinary team of specialists with extensive training in this procedure . The partnered approach between cardiology , cardiovascular surgery and vascular surgery allows access for the device to be administered by fellowship-trained vascular surgeons who specialize in vascular cutdown . This increases the quality of care to these acute patients backed by ECMO nurses , intensivists and perfusionists .
The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization ( ELSO ) awarded Baylor University Medical Center the 2018- 2020 ELSO Award for Excellence in Life Support- Gold Level . The award recognizes extracorporeal life support programs worldwide that distinguish themselves by having processes , procedures and systems in place that promote excellence and exceptional care in providing ECMO to their patients .
ECMO is a lifesaving treatment for the sickest patients after other options have been exhausted . As the world continues to face the coronavirus pandemic , many facilities are turning to ECMO to treat acute patients suffering from the virus . A small study in China found that one out of six patients ( 17 %) with severe COVID-19 who received ECMO survived . From March through June 2020 , Baylor University Medical Center cared for 22 COVID-19 positive patients on ECMO with an 81 % survival rate . After treatment , patients may experience a prolonged recovery journey and a referral to cardiac rehabilitation .
VAD implantations ( FY20 ):
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ECMO survival rate in COVID-19 patients ( March - June 2020 ):*
* Data reflects patients with a discharge disposition
81 %