John M. Stulak, M.D., has a special interest in the surgical treatment of advanced heart failure, including the use of ventricular assist devices in heart transplantation.
Compared with medical therapy, ventricular assist device therapy has proved to significantly improve survival rates and quality of life in select patients with advanced heart failure. Significant progress has been made in pump technology innovation, refinement in the timing of therapy, patient selection, and implantation techniques, along with postoperative care and the prevention and management of device-related complications.
Currently, the majority of patients who are referred for implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) have end-stage heart failure with critical shock, or are experiencing a progressive decline and require intravenous medications to improve heart function. The severity of patient illness at the time of LVAD implementation directly affects surgical risks and long-term survival. So, targeting a population of patients who are less sick could potentially improve survival and reduce complications and adverse events.