LVADs are a bridge to transplant for so many of our patients who are living with heart failure. Today, through this new procedure, we can significantly extend and enhance their life while they wait for transplant.
The Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant team at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center is one of only two centers in the country, and the only center in New Jersey, that is currently using the off-pump approach to implant HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) via a less invasive bilateral thoracotomy.
Igor Gosev, MD, Section Chief of Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support, at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center brought the innovative technique to Newark Beth Israel in 2024 and has performed more than 50 of these procedures at Newark Beth Israel, to date. Dr. Gosev was the Principal Investigator of the HM3 SWIFT clinical trial, a multicenter single-arm study of implantation of the HeartMate 3 in patients with advanced heart failure using surgical techniques other than full median sternotomy (open heart surgery).
Patients like Mr. Grady Roberts, 40, from Pleasantville, NJ, are getting a second chance at life thanks to less invasive bilateral thoracotomy off-pump HeartMate 3 Implantation.
Mr. Roberts came to Newark Beth Israel for an emergency LVAD implant in January 2025. He was in cardiogenic shock; his heart could not pump enough blood to meet his body’s needs. His local hospital transferred him to Newark Beth Israel, where the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant team placed him on ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) support until he could receive an LVAD.
Traditionally Mr. Roberts would have undergone open heart surgery to implant the LVAD.
However, on January 16, 2025, Dr. Igor Gosev performed the less invasive bilateral thoracotomy off pump approach procedure, through two small incisions on either side of his chest.
Mr. Roberts experienced a faster recovery time, increased mobility after surgery, and his physicians are confident that he can continue to live his normal life and resume most daily activities while he awaits a heart transplant.
“LVADs are a bridge to transplant for so many of our patients who are living with heart failure. Today, through this new procedure, we can significantly extend and enhance their life while they wait for transplant,” said Dr. Gosev.
Not only is he able to resume his normal activities, but Mr. Roberts is also continuing to receive excellent cardiac care close to home from Kulpreet Barn, MD, Director of the Heart Failure, Heart and Vascular Service Line, at RWJBarnabas Health.
Dr. Barn manages five outpatient cardiac practices, allowing patients to receive cardiac care in their neighborhoods. View more information on Dr. Barn’s practices.
Three months after leaving the hospital, Mr. Roberts, a father of five, and a supervisor at a fast-food restaurant in his town, had returned to work full-time. He continues to work full time and is looking forward to enjoying the boardwalk with his family this summer.
No one plans on heart problems. But everyone should have a plan for them. Make your plan for heart health at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Get your heart checked.