How we use MCS devices
Each MCS device is designed to address specific patient conditions. Our team has years of experience in selecting the right devices and therapies based on each patient’s unique needs. At Penn Medicine, we use mechanical circulatory support in several ways.
Many people in the nation live with advanced heart failure, and the shortage of donor hearts can delay transplants. MCS helps support the heart until a donor heart becomes available. We also have pioneered the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and offer Lung Rescue (VV ECMO) to support patients with severe respiratory failure.
MCS allows our heart specialists time to stabilize and assess critically ill heart failure patients. During this time, we evaluate their risk factors to determine if they are candidates for a heart transplant once they are stable enough for surgery.
Penn Medicine is one of the highest volume centers in the region to use ventricular assist devices (VADs) to support recovery from cardiogenic shock or reversible heart failure. We implant a device that allows the heart to rest for weeks, months, or even years. Once the heart is strong enough, the device is removed.
For patients who aren’t eligible for a transplant, a VAD can provide lifelong support, improving both survival and quality of life.