Skip to main content
Accessibility help
Home

Proudly Part of Jefferson Health

Main Menu

  • Find
    • Doctors
    • Locations
    • Services
  • Do
    • Log in to MyLVHN
    • Pay a Bill
  • Explore
    • Jefferson Health
    • Give
Questions? 888-402-LVHN (5846) Contact Us

Careers

  • All Careers
  • Nursing Careers
  • Physician and APC Careers
  • Residencies and Fellowships

Make an Appointment

  • Current doctor
  • New doctor
  • First available
  • Video visit

COVID-19

Patient Information

  • Patient & Visitor Information
  • Medical Records
  • Accepted Insurances
  • Financial Services
  • Institutes
  • Health Tips, Patient Stories & News
  • Events, Classes & Groups
  • Clinical Trials
  • About LVHN

For Clinicians

  • Refer a Patient
  • Careers
  • Research & Clinical Trials
  • Education
  • Institutes
  • About LVHN

Find

Doctors Locations Services Careers

Search LVHN Site

Suggested Links

  • Careers
  • Children's Hospital
  • Pay a Bill
  • Medical Records

What type of appointment are you looking for?

Appointment with

I am an existing patient I am a new patient

Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)

Need Immediate Care?
For emergency services, call 911.

For non-emergency walk-in care, try an ExpressCARE location.
Need help scheduling or have a question?
Call 888-402-LVHN (5846).

A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is an artificial pump that may be an option for you if your heart is failing.

Need Immediate Care?
For emergency services, call 911.

For non-emergency walk-in care, try an ExpressCARE location.
Need help scheduling or have a question?
Call 888-402-LVHN (5846).

  • More Information
  • More

    • Home
    • Doctors
  • Home
  • Doctors

Page Hierarchy

  1. Services and Treatments
  2. Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)

Heart failure is a condition in which your heart is unable to keep up with effectively pumping blood through your body. Your heart muscle can become worn out from inadequate blood supply, a large heart attack, congenital heart disease, inflammation of the heart, and even without an easily identified cause in some cases.  Most people with congestive heart failure are effectively treated with medicine.  When medical therapy is not enough to support adequate blood flow, an artificial blood pump, or LVAD, can be an effective option for many people. At Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute, we have experience with even the most complex heart issues.

Congestive heart failure may cause you to suffer from shortness of breath, swelling or fluid retention, and severe fatigue.  These symptoms can slowly progress over time, though sometimes you may notice a relatively rapid onset.

An evaluation by a cardiologist who specializes in treating heart failure, may find that medications are very effective in reversing your symptoms. But if you have worsening symptoms, despite these treatments, your cardiologist may ask you to consider treatment with an artificial heart pump.

left ventricular assist device (LVAD) HeartMate 3™
This surgically implanted pump helps circulate blood. Lehigh Valley Health Network was the first in the region to offer the HeartMate 3™, a smaller-sized LVAD that pumps blood more gently.

Your history of congestive heart failure would most commonly call for an evaluation that includes an echocardiogram, or heart ultrasound, a heart catheterization to look for blockages in your arteries that feed your heart and to measure the blood pressure within your heart, and at times a cardiac MRI.  These studies are undertaken to determine how badly your heart is damaged, and to be sure that there are no other problems that could be corrected with a stent or open-heart surgery.

If your cardiologist determines you have worsening heart failure without other potential solutions, you may be referred for consideration for surgical implant of an LVAD to support your heart.

Your Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute team will develop an individualized care plan for you.

Help for heart failure

Our experts offer specialized treatments for people with advanced heart failure.

Second opinion

See a specialist

Get advanced care for heart failure from the region’s most experienced team comprised of cardiologists board-certified in heart failure medicine.

Make an appointment
Image

Exceptional heart care at Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute

Get excellent care at the region’s largest comprehensive heart and vascular institute. You don’t take chances with a heart condition. You head straight for the best possible care. Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute is achieving amazing results every day, results that save more lives.
Make an appointment

Customer Service

888-402-LVHN (5846)
Contact Us
Mon - Fri:
7 am – 8 pm
Saturday:
9 am – 5 pm
Sunday:
9 am – 5 pm

Support

  • For Referring Physicians
  • For Health Professionals
  • For Employers
  • Website Feedback
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

About LVHN

  • About Us
  • Give
  • Careers
  • Volunteer
  • Health Tips, News & Stories
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Price Transparency

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

©2025 Lehigh Valley Health Network. Image content is used for illustrative purposes only.