Atlanta, Ga. (August 30, 2023) - Piedmont Heart Institute’s Samsky Advanced Heart Failure Center achieved record numbers in fiscal year 2023, which runs July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, performing 73 heart transplants, which represents a 564 percent increase in volume growth for the heart transplant program, and Piedmont Atlanta Hospital being the number two LVAD program in the country by volume, with 66 LVADs implanted in FY2023.
“Our physicians are passionate about finding new ways to serve our patients and it is reflected in the continued increase in volumes we have seen this year,” said David Kandzari, M.D., Chief of Piedmont Heart Institute and the Cardiovascular Service Line; Director, Interventional Cardiology of the Piedmont Heart Institute; and Chief Scientific Officer for Piedmont Healthcare. “The incredibly talented physicians of Piedmont Heart continue to make great contributions to the patients of our state and beyond by bringing innovative treatments and clinical trials to Georgia that are saving lives.”
The heart transplant program started 11 years ago and has since performed more than 190 heart transplants. Ezequiel J. Molina, M.D., surgical program director of Advanced Heart Failure, Transplant, and Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS), along with Robert Cole, M.D., medical director of Advanced Heart Failure, Transplant, and Mechanical Circulatory Support, have built upon the reputation of Piedmont Heart for excellence in cardiovascular care, and have greatly increased the success of the program, achieving record numbers the last two years.
There are currently 3,300 Americans on the waiting list for a heart transplant, with 104 people currently waiting on a new heart in the state of Georgia, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
“With the growth of Piedmont Heart’s transplant program, thanks to the incredible teamwork and support we have received from Piedmont’s leadership and our entire team, we hope to help more people with heart failure receive a new heart,” said Dr. Molina.
In 2023, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology reported that an estimated 6.7 million Americans over the age of 20 have heart failure, and between 300,000 and 800,000 Americans have advanced heart failure. A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a mechanical heart device that is surgically implanted to treat advanced heart failure, and can serve as a temporary solution until a new heart becomes available or as a permanent solution for those that are not eligible for a heart transplant.
The Samsky Advanced Heart Failure Center is a top 10 national LVAD implanting center, helping end-stage heart failure patients maintain or improve organ function, and Piedmont Atlanta is now the number two LVAD program in the country, by volume.
“The advanced heart failure team at Piedmont Atlanta is dedicated to making a positive difference for every patient suffering from heart disease, whether through medications or advanced surgical techniques like transplant and LVAD,” said Dr. Cole. “We offer the top programs in the country and strive to give our patients a new lease on life, spending quality time doing the things they love.”
Learn more information on Piedmont Heart Institute, including heart failure and heart transplant services.