Treatment Options

Cardiac rehabilitation can help recovery for patients who have been hospitalized for a heart attack, heart failure or cardiac surgery. Trinity Health Of New England offers a robust, multi-stage cardiac rehabilitation program. This supervised exercise and education regimen can help strengthen the heart muscle, enhance cardiac function, and educate patients about healthy lifestyle practices. We offer a team approach with expert and compassionate care delivered with a patient-centered focus.

Learn more about cardiac rehabilitation.

Patients with heart failure caused by coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease or heart valve disease may be candidates for cardiac surgery. We offer the latest approaches for interventional procedures, minimally invasive surgery, and open-heart surgeries. Heart bypass surgery and valve surgery are the most common surgical approaches to heart failure treatments. We perform some of the highest volumes of both bypass and valve surgery in the state of Connecticut, giving us an unsurpassed level of expertise.

Patients in advanced stages of heart failure may benefit from a left ventricular assist device (VAD or LVAD), which a surgically implanted pump that takes over the pumping function of the heart to improve circulation to vital organs. Clinicians may recommend a VAD when conventional methods, such as lifestyle changes and medications, are not effective. These devices improve survival and quality of life for patients with advanced heart failure. Since VADs are relatively easy to use, patients can leave the hospital with the implanted device and return to the activities of normal life.

Learn more about VAD/LVAD.

Heart transplant is a treatment that's usually reserved for people whose condition has not improved enough with medications or other surgeries. Some patients may be candidates for heart transplantation, which replaces the damaged heart with a healthy heart from a person who has died. While a heart transplant is a major operation, the chance of survival is good with appropriate follow-up care.

Learn more about cardiac surgery for heart failure.

Heart bypass surgery and valve surgery are the most common surgical approaches to heart failure treatments. We perform some of the highest volumes of both bypass and valve surgeries, giving us an unsurpassed level of expertise.

An implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) is a surgically implanted electronic device with the primary function of preventing sudden cardiac death. This device monitors each heartbeat and if it detects a dangerously fast, slow, or irregular critical heart rhythm, it will give a life-saving shock to restore the normal rhythm. Some common reasons for ICD placement include:

• Serious arrhythmias not controlled by medication
• Underlying heart disease that increases the risk for serious arrhythmias
• Hereditary predisposition to dangerous arrhythmias 

A small sensor that is permanently placed in the pulmonary artery and monitors heart and lung pressures. The sensor records a daily pressure reading, which is then wirelessly transmitted to heart failure specialists for review. These pressures alert providers when patients have early signs of worsening heart failure and provide prompt treatment. This system decreases the need for patient clinic visits and hospitalizations.

The disease management team works with each patient to help with to follow a healthy lifestyle. Even small changes can make a big difference when it comes to heart failure. Some examples of lifestyle changes include:

• Quit smoking
• Avoid or decrease alcohol use
• Eating a heart healthy diet
• Exercise or increase physical activity
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Maintain a healthy blood pressure
• Stay current with vaccines
• Reduce stress

There are several medications that aid in slowing the progression of heart failure. Clinicians use the most recent research and protocols known as guideline directed medical therapy (GDMT) to determine treatment. Research has shown that GDMT protocols reduce heart failure death, decrease heart failure hospital visits, and improve quality of life.