UI Heart and Vascular Center

First in Iowa: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

In early 2012, UI Heart and Vascular Center became the first medical center in Iowa to perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the treatment, called the SAPIEN percutaneous heart valve replacement (manufactured by Edwards Lifesciences) in late fall 2011.

First in Nation in Valve Surgery Certification

In October 2011, UI Heart and Vascular Center became the first program in the United States to receive certification for its cardiac valve repair and replacement program from The Joint Commission, the accreditation agency for health care organizations in the United States.

First in Iowa: Total Artificial Heart

In July 2011, UI Heart and Vascular Center specialists achieved another medical first in Iowa: the implantation of a SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH)—the newest treatment option for the sickest heart failure patients.

Iowa's Only: Ventricular Assist Device Program

UI Heart and Vascular Center also is home to the state’s only ventricular assist device (VAD) program for patients with advanced heart failure. The program earned Joint Commission certification in June 2010.

Leading the Nation in Heart Transplant Results

The heart transplant and heart assist implant program last year achieved the lowest observed inpatient mortality ratio in the nation among its peers ranked by the University HealthSystems Consortium (UHC)—an alliance of 116 medical centers and 259 of their affiliated hospitals, representing more than 90 percent of the nation’s nonprofit academic medical centers. UI Heart and Vascular Center ranks first among UHC members participating in the Clinical Data Base for Heart Transplant and Heart Assist System (VAD) outcomes.

The UI heart transplant program and mechanical circulatory support program had the most favorable scores for risk-adjusted mortality performance for heart transplants and implants of heart assist devices for patients discharged between October 2010 and September 2011. Of the 37 cases performed at the UI, there were no mortalities.