Young mother experiences AFib during pregnancy
January 28, 2026
At just 26 years old, a Nashville mother receives specialty heart care for women at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart Women’s Center during her second pregnancy.
Heart transplant and VAD
See what makes Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, Tennessee, a leader in heart transplant and VAD care.
Heart transplant and VAD in Nashville
See what makes Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, Tennessee, a leader in heart transplant and VAD care.
Why choose us
When you choose Ascension Saint Thomas Heart for your heart care, your doctor is part of a nationally recognized program for heart transplantation for positive outcomes. Our transplant program also ranks number one in the country for survival on the waiting list and is in the top 2% nationally for getting a transplant faster according to The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR). Our heart program offers advanced screenings and diagnostics from a team who cares for more adult hearts than any other health system in Tennessee. The heart care team at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart has performed more than 300 heart transplants since 2016.
Your care is personalized to your stage or heart failure and needs including advanced medical therapies, standard and minimally invasive procedures, VAD and heart transplant. Your doctor also connects the dots for your care -- including connecting you to heart screenings and the right cardiovascular specialists.
Understand your heart failure
Congestive heart failure is a condition that has stages and gets worse over time. When your heart is unable to pump blood properly, you may experience heart failure. When you have reached advanced heart failure, your doctor may suggest a heart transplant or ventricular assist device (VAD) to help restore your heart function.
Heart failure is a serious condition. At Ascension Saint Thomas Heart, your experienced care team has the expertise to deliver a personalized heart care plan based on your specific needs.
Understanding heart transplantation
A heart transplant replaces a severely diseased or failing heart with a healthy donor heart, restoring the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. Heart transplantation can improve survival, physical function, and quality of life for eligible patients with end-stage heart disease. You may need a heart transplant if your heart doesn't respond to medical therapy or a VAD. Your cardiologist will work with our dedicated transplant team and provide personalized care every step of the heart transplant journey, from evaluation and donor matching to surgery and lifelong follow-up.
Know if you are a candidate for a heart transplant
The first step is an evaluation to see if you meet the criteria for a transplant. There are many factors that affect whether you are a good candidate for heart transplant and whether it might work well for you, including, but not limited to:
- Active infections, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, or other diseases
- Active use of alcohol or tobacco
- Age 69 or younger
- Height and weight
- Stage of heart failure
If you are a candidate for a heart transplant, you will be placed on the national waitlist. Wait times can vary from a few months to years, depending on your height and weight, blood typing, and organ availability.
While you are waiting for your new heart, you and your care team stay connected, with follow-up visits to monitor your heart health. Talk with your doctor about any new symptoms, your medications and diet while you prepare for your transplant.
Understanding VAD
If you are diagnosed with advanced heart failure, you may need a VAD. A ventricular assist device helps your heart temporarily or permanently pump blood throughout your body. A VAD may be recommended by your doctor if you are recovering from surgery, awaiting a heart transplant or unable to receive a heart transplant. The three types of VAD devices are:
- Biventricular assist device (BiVAD)
- Left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
- Right ventricular assist device (RVAD)
Receiving a VAD requires an open-heart surgery and patients typically stay in the hospital for multiple days following the procedure. After your surgery, your care team works with you and your caregivers to help you have an easier transition to your home, skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation care facility. A VAD can help keep you healthier while you wait for a heart transplant.
Understanding LVAD
An LVAD may be used as a short-term or long-term treatment for patients with severe heart failure. Bridge-to-transplant therapy is a short-term option where the LVAD is used to support patients while they wait for a heart transplant. Long-term therapy, also called destination therapy, is for patients who are not good candidates for a heart transplant due to health complications or other reasons. Unlike bridge-to-transplant therapy, long-term therapy is used to support a patient’s heart for the rest of their life.
Ascension Saint Thomas Heart was the first hospital in Middle Tennessee to be approved for long-term therapy by The Joint Commission.
Clinical trials
Our doctors participate in clinical trials for VAD and transplants. These research studies may help provide you with more advanced treatment options. To learn about our cardiovascular clinical trials, talk to our advanced heart failure doctors and cardiac transplant coordinator by calling 615-222-5533.
Corcinch — HF
Clinical evaluation of the AccuCinch® ventricular restoration system in patients who present with symptomatic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)
Patient education
Get detailed information on what to expect before and after your procedure. Learn how to prepare and what to expect with recovery from your care team.
How to get care
Have your doctor make a referral by calling 615-222-5533. Ask if a virtual visit is an option for your care. Need a second opinion appointment? Our team can help. Schedule a consultation today.
Get a second opinion
When you are facing a serious diagnosis like heart failure or deciding on a treatment plan, there is a lot to think about. If you are looking for a second opinion for advanced heart care, our cardiologists are ready to help. Your advanced heart care and surgery offerings may include heart transplant and mechanical circulatory support such as ventricular assist devices (VAD) to temporarily or permanently perform functions of the heart. Talk to your doctor about treatment options that are right for you.
Refer your patient to Ascension Saint Thomas Heart
When you are facing a new diagnosis or are deciding on a surgical or therapeutic treatment plan, there’s a lot to think about. If you are looking for a second opinion for advanced heart care, our cardiologists can also connect you with the right specialists.
Before your appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your medical records on your behalf, so that they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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