Mechanical circulatory support

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is a treatment that uses medical devices to help a weakened heart pump blood more effectively. Penn Medicine provides lifesaving MCS for people with advanced heart failure.

Console for control extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ecmo)

Innovative mechanical heart support

If you have advanced heart failure or are awaiting heart transplant surgery, mechanical assistance may be needed to keep your heart pumping enough blood. Lifesaving mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices can either temporarily or permanently help maintain proper blood flow by supporting or replacing your heart’s pumping function. These devices offer several key benefits:

  • Support better heart function.
  • Improve survival rates for people with advanced heart failure.
  • Enhance quality of life.
  • Aid in heart function recovery in certain patients.

Penn Medicine’s mechanical circulatory support program offers the most innovative heart support options available today. We’re the only center in the region, one of the few nationwide, that uses a minimally invasive approach (lateral thoracotomy) to implant devices in certain patients, improving recovery and delivering excellent surgical outcomes. We also specialize in treating high-risk patients, including those turned away by other hospitals and referred to us for advanced heart failure therapies.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials offer patients the opportunity to try new and effective treatments and take part in future research.

Second opinions

If you've received a diagnosis, our team of experts offers second opinions to grant you peace of mind.

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.

Mechanical circulatory support treatment

Choosing the right MCS treatment option for your condition requires a thorough evaluation of your health, medical history, physical exams, lab tests, heart function, and care goals. At Penn Medicine, a multidisciplinary team will assess whether MCS is right for you. This collaborative care is delivered by our expert staff, including cardiovascular surgeons, heart failure specialized cardiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, social workers, cardiac nurses, nutrition specialists, psychiatrists, and technicians.

We offer these MCS devices and therapies.

Nationally top-ranked hospital for cardiac care

When you choose Penn Medicine for mechanical circulatory support, you’ll benefit from a team with years of experience. As a nationally top-ranked hospital for cardiac care, our heart surgeons perform over 3,000 procedures each year. We work with every major MCS device and offer minimally invasive options.

We’re also known for:

  • Treating high-risk patients: With our unmatched expertise, many high-risk patients are referred to us for advanced heart failure therapies when other hospitals are unable to offer treatment.
  • Leading the region in ECMO: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a lifesaving therapy for people with complex heart or lung conditions. We are one of the highest-volume centers using ECMO support and offer mobile ECMO to rescue patients too sick to travel.
  • Device optimization: We’re the only center in the region that routinely optimizes devices using hemodynamic and echocardiographic data at three and 12 months after surgery. This approach helps your ventricular assist device function at its best. Our proactive method maximizes device support and improves patient symptoms.
  • Clinical innovation: We’ve been involved in clinical trials for every major mechanical circulatory support device and continue to lead groundbreaking studies. Our surgeons and cardiologists are national leaders, shaping the design and advancement of MCS therapy in both medical societies and technological development.

Related articles

Patient stories

ECMO saves recovering cancer survivor from lung failure

From cancer survivor to lung failure, Joey Porch’s journey took a miraculous turn with the help of the Penn Lung Rescue team

A hole in the heart repaired

After a heart attack, Vilma Patel's family brought her from India to Lancaster for lifesaving VSD repair.

Home ventilation for respiratory failure: Jacquie’s story

Jacquie Eubanks never suspected respiratory failure could be causing her shortness of breath. Home breathing treatment helps her live a fulfilling life.

The road to recovery begins at home

Penn Medicine’s SNF at Home pilot program offers a seamless transition from the hospital to home with extra support to recover in familiar surroundings.

Home-assisted ventilation for ALS: Stacy’s story

When Stacy Lewin, MD, started experiencing symptoms of ALS, she turned to the Penn Medicine Fishman Program for Home Assisted Ventilation.

Home-assisted ventilation for autoimmune disease: Kim’s story

A rare autoimmune disease kept Kim Day from his favorite outdoor hobbies, until he met doctors in the Fishman Program for Home Assisted Ventilation.

A new way to treat Afib: Pulsed field ablation

Rick Smith chose pulsed field ablation for its precision and faster recovery. One month later, he’s back on the road, grateful for the care he received.

Bringing the hospital home

With Penn Medicine Advanced Home Health, even patients facing a potentially serious medical issue can receive care safely at home.

New lungs, a new liver, and a new lease on life

Decades after a childhood diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, Donald traveled across the world to find transplant care he could trust at Penn Medicine.

Finding triple-negative breast cancer at 33, she chose ‘Team Penn’

Shocked to learn she had stage III breast cancer, Kate Korson knew just where to go. She flew home to Penn Medicine, where a clinical trial saved her life.

Schedule an appointment

We can help you schedule an appointment or you can search our directory of specialists.