Heart transplant programs

You can call (352) 265-0751 to make a referral to the heart transplant program at the Shands Transplant Center at the University of Florida.

The Shands Transplant Center at UF offers many programs for heart transplant patients.

Left Ventricular Assist System
The Heart Transplant Program at Shands Transplant Center uses the TCI HeartMate Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD). The Heartmate device is implanted in the abdominal cavity and works in parallel with the natural heart by taking over the pumping action of the hearts left ventricle. It is used as an interim device for status 1 patients awaiting heart transplantation.

Heart Failure Clinic
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a clinical syndrome that occurs when the heart is unable to meet the metabolic needs of the body. It is not a specific disease, but the end result of any of a number of cardiac diseases.

Common CHF symptoms are:

Shortness of breath - either with exertion or in some cases at rest
Inability to lie flat without feeling out of breath
Swelling - in the legs and abdomen
Fatigue
Loss of appetite and eventually wasting

The mortality of this syndrome remains very high for the CHF patients with weakened heart. A patient who presents today of heart failure due to a weakened heart has a 90 percent chance of dying form CHF. The five-year survival rate is 50 percent.

The number of patients with CHF is increasing. More patients are surviving previously fatal heart attacks. Estimates show that there are over three million Americans with CHF and that 400,000 new cases are diagnosed annually.

Shands at UF difference
The Comprehensive Heart Failure Program at Shands Transplant Center at UF improves the lives of patients with heart failure by:

Giving advanced medical treatment in an efficient and compassionate manner
Being a regional resource to physicians and other health care providers
Promoting improvements in the science and caring for the patients with a failing heart

Statistics
Success rate and various other statistics regarding the Shands Transplant Center at UF are available from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients at ustransplant.org.

Related Links
CHF Patients

Transplant Navigation

Heart and Lung Transplant

Heart Transplant Navigation

Pediatric heart transplant

Process

Programs

Recovery

Make an Appointment

To make an appointment or find out more information about transplant services offered at Shands at the University of Florida, please call 352.265.8000 or toll-free 1.800.749.7424

You may also email our Consultation Center (consult@shands.ufl.edu) or use our secure online form.