Ventricular assist device (VAD) volume

A ventricular assist device (VAD) is a mechanical pump, surgically placed in a patient’s chest, which helps the heart pump blood throughout the body. A VAD is placed in patients who have worsening heart failure, which makes it difficult for the heart to adequately pump blood to the body. These patients may be awaiting heart transplantation, or they may receive the VAD as a permanently implanted pump if they are not heart transplant candidates.

VAD placement requires proficiency and clinical competence in the management of patient care after surgery. Higher volumes have been associated with better survival (e.g., fewer deaths), which may represent better quality.

About this measure

This measure displays the number of VADs the hospital implanted in 2011. Since the beginning of the VAD program in 2005, we have implanted approximately 155 VADs. The second graph shows a trend over time for this measure.