Heart and Lung Bypass Machine Gives Patient Time to Heal
The quick thinking of a Stanford-trained physician led to the use of a life-saving technology to save a young man fighting a hantavirus infection.
Manage Your Care From Anywhere.
Access your health information from any device with MyHealth. You can message your clinic, view lab results, schedule an appointment, and pay your bill.
Our Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Program offers a team experienced in the most advanced devices available today, including ventricular assist devices and total artifical heart. We provide MCS technology to those waiting for a heart transplant (bridge-to-transplant) and those who do not qualify for a transplant, but have a poor quality of life on medical therapy (destination therapy).
During end-stage heart failure, a mechanical circulatory support (MCS) device helps the heart function. Our Mechanical Circulatory Support Program offers the full range of short-term and long-term MCS options.
We provide MCS technology to those waiting for a heart transplant (bridge-to-transplant). Our team has also expanded the use of this technology to those who do not qualify for a transplant, but have a poor quality of life on medical therapy (destination therapy).
MCS Devices and Therapies
Our Mechanical Circulatory Support Program provides the newest MCS devices and therapies available, including:
Stanford is one of two destination therapy ventricular assist device (VAD) programs in Northern California, with the highest volume in the Bay Area, and the largest volume VAD implanting center on the West coast. We are also the only program in Northern California to offer the total artificial heart.
Short-Term MCS Support
Short-term MCS options for those with cardiogenic shock include percutaneous ventricular assist devices (PVAD) and ECMO. ECMO is a lifesaving procedure performed to support the heart and lungs after reversible, but life threatening cardiovascular events. With the most up-to-date equipment, we can travel to remote hospitals and transfer patients on ECMO support to Stanford for care.
Long-Term MCS Support
For people with chronic, end-stage heart failure, Stanford offers all long-term MCS options, including the newest VAD technology and the total artificial heart. Ventricular assist devices take over the function of one of the ventricles in your heart. They take blood from chambers of the heart and help pump it to the body, supporting the heart.
These devices can be placed either as a bridge-to-transplant or as destination therapy for those not eligible for transplantation. Stanford is one of the select institutions currently participating in the ADVANCE bridge-to-transplant trial.
The quick thinking of a Stanford-trained physician led to the use of a life-saving technology to save a young man fighting a hantavirus infection.
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.
At your first appointment, you will meet our heart failure team, including a heart failure physician and nurse. We will review your medical history and any of the tests that have been sent with you. During the visit, you will receive education about your condition, recommendations about changes to your diet, and may have medications adjusted and other tests ordered.
We usually obtain an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to measure your heart and valve function. We also obtain an electrocardiogram (EKG) to assess the rhythm of your heart. If you have a defibrillator or pacemaker, we may interrogate your device to make sure it is working appropriately. We may ask you to have blood drawn at our laboratory to check your kidney and liver function.
At future visits, depending on the severity of your condition, a number of diagnostic tests may be performed. These may include exercise stress testing (VO2 max testing), cardiac catheterization, or even genetic testing.
You may reach a transplant nurse coordinator at 650-498-9909.
Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referral Information.
You may also submit a web referral or complete a referral form and fax it to 650-320-9443 or email the Referral Center at ReferralCenter@stanfordhealthcare.org.
Call Val Cannon at 650-723-5468. Fax a referral form with supporting documentation to 650-320-9443.