‘External Heart’ Works When a Patient’s Can’t

The Central California Heart Center at Doctors Medical Center of Modesto recently acquired a new piece of equipment which can temporarily support the heart when it is severely weakened by heart attack or surgery. A type of Ventricular Assist Device (VAD), the Abiomed AB5000 serves as an external pump. Blood flows from the left, right or both ventricles of the heart into the VAD, allowing blood to reach vital organs when the heart is too frail to function on its own.

“This equipment can give the heart an opportunity to rest and potentially recover,” says Lani Dickinson, R.N., Director of Patient Care Services at Doctors Medical Center of Modesto. “It can also be used as a ‘bridge to transplant’ – sustaining a patient until they are ready to be transported for heart transplantation.”

Dickinson says the need for this equipment generally occurs only about once per year. Nevertheless, it was a priority for the Central California Heart Center. “When you have a comprehensive heart program, and you want to maximize the chances for survival of every patient, you have to have this available,” she says.

The Central California Heart Center offers an array of heart services ranging from managing the early stages of heart disease with minimally invasive treatment options to providing advanced open heart surgery. Staffed by experienced professionals, our facilities include our Emergency Room, 24-hour Cardiac Cath Lab, Specialty Operating Rooms, and a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.

To find out more about our cardiac program, call 888.284.6641.