What is a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)?

An LVAD, also sometimes called a mechanical circulatory support device, helps your heart pump enough blood to the rest of your body. The device is implanted into the left lower chamber of the heart. You might get an LVAD as temporary aid while you are waiting for a transplant, or you might have one implanted as a permanent solution.

Our experts works together to give you complete care and guide you on your journey from diagnosis to implantation and through your follow-up care. Our program has an on-call LVAD nurse practitioner, who offers 24/7 assistance with emergencies or after-hours concerns.

We currently implant the HeartMate3™ device.

We are able to help patients who already have implants of:

• CentriMag™ RVAD/LVAD
• HeartMate 3™
• HeartMate II™ Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)
• HVAD Heartwave
• Impella 2.5, CP, 5.0, 5.5

Our History

The USC Transplant Institute has been a national leader in cardiac transplantation for more than 30 years. We are committed to moving the science of transplantation forward and offering our patients the best possible care.

• The USC Transplant Institute started performing solid organ transplants in 1991.
• We established our Cardiac Transplantation Program in 1993, under the guidance of Dr. Vaughn Starnes and Dr. Mark Barr.
• In 2009, we received a Transplant Excellence Award from Healthgrades, an independent organization that evaluates health care programs.
• In 2019, the American Heart Association awarded Keck Hospital of USC its Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for our Heart Failure Program.
• In 2021, we achieved a new program best: 41 heart transplants performed during a single year — in spite of the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.