Ventricular Assist Device program

LVAD patient Autumn Bowling with her cardiologist, Sandip Zalawadiya, MBBS, during a follow-up visit.
January 26, 2023

LVAD, medication therapy help patient’s heart recover full function

Six months receiving an LVAD at Vanderbilt, Autumn Bowling’s heart fully recovered its function and doctors were able to turn the device off, a rare feat.

By Matt Batcheldor
Bariatric surgery patient Veronica Llamas-Barajas recently received a heart transplant.
September 15, 2022

Patient’s care journey included LVAD, bariatric surgery, transplant

When Veronica Llamas-Barajas received a heart transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in April, it was the culmination of a seven-year journey.

By Matt Batcheldor
Patient Veronica Llamas-Barajas (light gray shirt) with members of her care team, from left, Casey West, MSN, ANP-BC, Sandip Zalawadiya, MBBS, Jessica Hassler, RN, Wendy Tarpley, RN, and Wayne English, MD.
January 13, 2022

Bariatric surgery gave LVAD patient second chance at life

Veronica Llamas-Barajas is the first LVAD patient at Vanderbilt to undergo bariatric surgery.

By Matt Batcheldor
After receiving his LVAD, patient Brandon Cochran was able to leave the hospital and spend more time with his wife, Amy, and daughters Olivia and Stella.
September 2, 2021

Novel LVAD allows patient to see family, celebrate milestones

Brandon Cochran, a 39-year-old real estate agent in Louisville, Kentucky, was at home with his family in October 2020 when he went into cardiac arrest. His implanted defibrillator shocked him back to life, and he was hospitalized for seven months.

By Matt Batcheldor
May 6, 2020

Ventricular assist device program hits major milestone

VHVI’s cardiac surgery and heart failure teams recently celebrated a milestone — implanting the 500th adult patient with a ventricular assist device.

By Matt Batcheldor