Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Care

at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is New Jersey’s largest academic medical center through its deep partnership with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. It is the flagship hospital in the state’s only academic health care system.

Our academic medical center holds national acclaim in multiple facets of healthcare service, including recognition for outstanding clinical quality and patient safety. We have consistently earned national recognition in quality awards, including in the U.S. News & World Report annual Best Hospitals rankings for Cardiology, Heart & Vascular Surgery.

Our comprehensive program in cardiovascular screening and treatment includes the most advanced interventions. Our staff members hold the highest level of certifications and are dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing environment with high-quality medical treatment for our patients and their families.

With state-of-the-art cardiac electrophysiology labs, we offer a full range of diagnostic catheterization and coronary interventional procedures. We are a national leader in preventing, treating, and curing cardiovascular and thoracic diseases.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Is an Innovative Leader in Advancing State-of-the-Art Care

Program highlights:

• Listed among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals
• One of only two hospitals in New Jersey that is Medicare-certified to perform heart transplants
• Recertified with The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)
• Offers the Extracorporeal Life Support Program, providing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a specialized cardiac and respiratory support system
• At the forefront of specialized care for patients with heart failure. The Advanced Heart Failure Program offers the full spectrum of care for people with advanced heart failure, including biventricular pacemakers, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), access to clinical trials and a Medicare-certified heart transplantation service
• Performs pulse field ablation, a novel system that isolates pulmonary veins in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, minimizing the risk of damage to surrounding anatomy
• Offers minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery using the state-of-the-art da Vinci surgical robot; an alternative to open surgery, this new approach enables the surgeon to operate with unparalleled precision and control through a few small incisions
• The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) provides world-class cardiac care to patients requiring cardiac surgery, transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), heart transplants and ventricular assist device implantation, among other procedures, in a warm, family-centered setting
• Features state-of-the-art cardiovascular operating rooms (OR) offering the most advanced medical imaging and integrated surgical technology on the market to ensure the safest environment for our patients when receiving open heart, minimally invasive, or robotic cardiac procedures
• Home to one of the busiest, most technologically advanced cardiovascular catheterization labs in New Jersey, which has performed over 12,000 procedures

Through its academic partnership with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, RWJUH provides graduate medical education in cardiovascular diagnosis, interventional cardiology, heart failure, electrophysiology, cardiac imaging, transplantation, vascular surgery and pulmonary critical care medicine. Our faculty, physicians and cardiovascular nurses also participate in clinical research through international collaborations.

Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Programs

RWJUH’s experienced team of heart, vascular and thoracic surgeons and medical support staff align to provide gold-standard care. We have some of the most comprehensive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery programs in the state of New Jersey, from screening and testing to minimally invasive procedures to heart transplants.

To learn more about the breadth and depth of services at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and how we are advancing heart and vascular care to benefit our patients and communities throughout New Jersey and beyond, read our 2023-2024 report.

View the RWJUH Heart and Vascular Report – 2023-2024

Nationally Recognized Team of Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Specialists

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is one of the top cardiac hospitals in the nation. Our expert team of nationally known heart specialists is composed of cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, pharmacists, perfusionists, echocardiographers and technicians skilled in all aspects of cardiovascular care. From diagnosis to treatment, our dedicated multidisciplinary teams serve our patients with the leading principles of care and compassion.

Meet our teams:

• Heart Failure, VAD and Transplant Team
• Cardiothoracic Surgery Team
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) Team
• Amyloidosis Center Team
• Stereotaxis Team

Accredited Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Care

Serving communities across the New Jersey and New York metropolitan areas, the Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Department at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital maintains the highest reputation in medical care standards. Consistently providing our patients with comprehensive and compassionate care, RWJUH has received multiple awards and recognitions over the years from state and national institutions.

U.S. News & World Report

The U.S. News & World Report annually updates its Best Hospitals rankings to help people find the best care when they need it most. RWJUH earned High Performing ratings in:

• Aortic Valve Surgery
• Heart Bypass Surgery
• Heart Failure
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

The Joint Commission

Awarded with the prestigious Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Ventricular Assist Device (VAD), Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s mission is to provide human-centered care while becoming a national leader in predicting, preventing and curing cardiovascular disease.

The American College of Cardiology

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) recognizes our commitment to driving preeminent hospital care for heart patients. Participating in the ACC’s proven quality care delivery and outcomes programs demonstrates our commitment to better lives for healthier tomorrows.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital earned a Three-Star Rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).

Technological Advancements

Advancements in technology are integral to improving medicine and patient outcomes. Using new equipment, techniques, and devices, RWJUH offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options. As a state and national leader in cardiac care, we offer a number of technological advancements including:

• Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM). This is an advanced, innovative device-based therapy for heart failure (HF).
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Is a type of artificial life support that can help a person whose lungs and heart aren’t functioning correctly. This process continuously pumps blood out of your body and sends it through a series of devices that add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. The machine then pumps your blood back into your body.
• Minimally invasive robotic surgery for mitral valve prolapse repair. We use a surgical robot to perform this procedure as an alternative to open heart surgery. This technology has the benefits of a reduced risk of infection, shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery time.
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). TAVR is an advanced procedure for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis.
• Ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. VADs are mechanical pumps that help pump blood from the lower chambers to the rest of the body. VAD implantation is handled by only a handful of New Jersey hospitals.
• Cutting edge procedures for arrhythmia treatment. Using sophisticated imaging tools and advanced mapping technology we safely and effectively perform cardiac ablations and device implantations.

• FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation System. The Farapulse Pulsed Field Ablation system offers a breakthrough approach to treating atrial fibrillation. Using a precise energy delivery method, it targets heart tissue while minimizing the risk of damage to surrounding areas, creating efficient and lasting results.

• The innovative Aurora EV-ICD™ system represents a groundbreaking approach, offering a single device and procedure with the lead positioned outside the heart and veins. Placing the lead outside the heart significantly lowers the risk of long-term complications.

Cardiac Emergency Center

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is equipped with a dedicated Cardiac Emergency Center that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. For your convenience, our emergency center operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and is accessible by emergency ground transportation as well as by helicopter air transport.

Access to the Latest Medical and Clinical Research

RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers University have partnered together to create the state’s most extensive academic healthcare system dedicated to providing high-quality patient care, leading-edge research and world-class health and medical education that will transform and advance healthcare in New Jersey. RWJUH and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School collaborate with academic peers globally to offer patients access to innovative therapies and devices through clinical trials that might not be available elsewhere.

View Clinical Trials

Make an Appointment

To see one of our heart, vascular and thoracic specialists, request an appointment today.

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