Heart Transplants

The Strong Heart & Vascular Center is the only center in the region that performs heart transplants. Our doctors are also performing ongoing research to improve the outcomes for all heart transplant patients-both here, and around the globe.

The region’s heart transplant experts. The Strong Heart & Vascular Center is the only center in upstate New York that provides heart transplants. Due to this, we work with patients throughout New York State and northern Pennsylvania, providing hope and expertise to families, and giving our patients another chance at life.

Outcomes for transplants. Not only are we the only hospital in the region with the capability to perform heart transplants, we are also providing exceptional outcomes. The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients reports transplant results with three statistics: The percentage of patients who would be expected to survive (for one and three years), the percentage who actually survived, and the national average of patients who survived. For the most recent 3-year period, the Scientific Registry calculated our expected survival rate to be 75.48%. In addition, our actual survival rate was much higher, at 88.24%. We were also significantly higher than the national average, which was 79.32%.

Helping patients get healthy enough for a transplant. There are two important challenges faced by people who need a heart transplant: staying alive until a heart becomes available, and being healthy enough to receive a heart transplant. Advances at the Strong Heart & Vascular Center are helping patients to overcome both of these challenges. Patients whose hearts are severely damaged often receive a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD), a pump that assists the heart. These revolutionary devices, once implanted, pump blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the patient’s body—a function the heart is no longer able to perform on its own. With this increased pumping ability, patients are able to walk, move around and ultimately get stronger. This helps to prepare them for a better outcome and faster recovery once they receive a heart transplant.

Get in Touch

For general questions or to make an appointment call
1-866-HEART-03
or contact us.

Patient Education

Heart Surgery