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Surgical procedures
Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) program
The Maritime Heart Center has had a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program for two years. This is a program whereby patients who do not have sufficient heart function are managed with a mechanical pump until such time as either their heart function recovers or they receive a transplant.
Before the institution of the Ventricular Assist Device Program, such patients faced the overwhelming likelihood of death from heart failure.
In our first two years of the program eight patients received VADs. The Maritime Heart Center is currently sponsoring a program to obtain a portable VAD system that allows patients to be discharged from hospital with a VAD.