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Heart Transplant Program

The UCSF Heart Transplant Program has performed more than 400 transplants since its first transplant in March 1989.

Heart failure affects nearly 5 million Americans and causes or contributes to as many as a quarter of a million deaths each year. It's a progressive condition in which the heart muscle weakens and gradually loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body.

More people are surviving heart attacks but are then left with weakened hearts, so heart failure is the only major cardiovascular disorder on the rise. Between 400,000 and 700,000 new cases are reported every year.

Heart transplants are the most advanced treatment for end-stage heart disease, which is the final phase of heart disease when no other effective treatment remains.

Doctor referral required

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    Patient education

    FAQ: Heart Transplant

    There are a number of things you can do to keep your heart healthy and reduce your risk of heart disease such as eating right and staying active. Learn more.

    Explore what we do

    UCSF's 35 years of heart transplant experience

    A leader in treating advanced heart failure, UCSF performed nearly 80 heart transplants in 2023. Learn about our team's commitment to cutting-edge technologies and techniques.

    Decorative Caduceus

    remedē System Therapy Study

    Proportion of subjects with peri-operative and long-term serious adverse events (SAEs) related to the remedē System implant procedure, device or delivered therapy

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    The EMPOWER Trial - The Carillon Mitral Contour System® in Treating Heart Failure With at Least...

    Freedom from a composite of major adverse events (defined as Device Embolization, Vessel Erosion, Cardiac Perforation, and occurrence of cardiac surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention) in the Intervention group is greater t...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Clinical Evaluation of the AccuCinch® Ventricular Restoration System in Patients Who Present Wi...

    MAE defined as: 1. All-cause death, 2. Myocardial infarction, 3. Stroke, 4. Need for non-elective cardiovascular surgery, 5. Worsening of heart-failure requiring mechanical circulatory support for more than 24 ...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    ALT-FLOW II Trial of the Edwards APTURE Transcatheter Shunt System

    Shunt implant safety: proportion of patients in the APTURE shunt group without any serious device or procedure-related (CEC adjudicated) complications (i.e., Major Adverse Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular, and Renal Events [MACCRE]...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Modulation of SERCA2a of Intra-myocytic Calcium Trafficking in Heart Failure With Reduced Eject...

    New York Heart Association classification (I, II, III or IV)

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Levothyroxine Supplementation for Heart Transplant Recipients

    Measured using the vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) scale. VIS calculation: dopamine dose (μg/kg/min) + dobutamine dose (μg/kg/min) + 100 × epinephrine dose (μg/kg/min) + 10 × milrinone dose (μg/kg/min) + 10 000 × vasopressin dos...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Remote Dielectric Sensing (ReDS) Assisted Diuresis in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

    Cumulative net fluid balance assessed by In's and Out's recorded in the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) during hospitalization

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry

    PAH guideline-recommended diagnostics assessed include chest radiography, echocardiogram, ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan, pulmonary function tests, overnight oximetry, and right heart catheterization and identified as either "co...

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    DORAYA-HF Early Feasibility Study

    Device or procedure related SAEs rate (including MACE) based on CEC adjudication.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    AN INTERNATIONAL, OBSERVATIONAL, BLINDED STUDY TO ASSESS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CORDIO HEARO SY...

    Until the end of the study, each participant will be assigned to one of the following event outcomes: 1. Having at least one protocol-defined Heart Failure Event (HFE) in the CORE period 2. Having no Heart Failure Event (HFE...

    Recruiting

    Awards & recognition

    • U S  News and World Report badge recognizing UCSF as part of its 2024-2025 Honor Roll

      Among the top hospitals in the nation

    • One of the nation's best for heart & vascular surgery

    • Rated high-performing hospital for heart failure

    Support services

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    Patient Resource

    Case Management & Social Work

    Connect with a team that can help you find resources, solve problems and advocate for you during treatment at UCSF.

    Patient Resource

    Kôz Hospitality House

    Kôz Hospitality House provides comfortable, reasonably priced accommodations near our Parnassus campus for UCSF patients during their treatment.

    Class

    Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Class

    This eight-week class teaches mindfulness practices that can reduce stress and improve your overall health, such as meditation and body awareness.

    Patient Resource

    Patient Relations

    We welcome feedback about your experience at UCSF Health. Find out how to contact us with comments, questions or concerns.

    Patient Resource

    Spiritual Care Services

    Chaplains representing many faiths are available around the clock to provide support, comfort and counsel to patients, families and caregivers.

    Preparing for your appointment

    What to Bring

    • If possible, please send in advance CT scans, chest X-rays, all test results and all other images for review. To ensure a comprehensive first visit, please bring copies of these medical records to your appointment as well.
    • Health insurance card
    • Insurance authorization, if required
    • Doctor's referral, if required
    • List of questions you may have
    • Device or paper for taking notes

    International Services

    If you live outside the United States and are coming to UCSF for medical treatment, our patient liaisons can help coordinate all aspects of your visit.

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    Interpreting Services

    UCSF offers interpreters in various languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), as well as services for deaf, hard-of-hearing and visually impaired patients.

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    Hospital Stays

    Make your hospital stay as smooth and comfortable as possible by finding out how to prepare and what to expect.

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    Your Doctor Visit

    See our top 10 tips for making your UCSF doctor’s appointment as stress-free and productive as possible.

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    Related clinics

    Advanced Heart Failure Comprehensive Care Center

    400 Parnassus Ave., Fifth Floor
    San Francisco, CA 94143

    Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Center

    500 Parnassus Ave., Floor B1, Suite MU09
    San Francisco, CA 94143

    Cardiac Surgery Program

    See our two Bay Area locations and learn more about the program.

    Mechanical Circulatory Support

    400 Parnassus Ave., Fifth Floor
    San Francisco, CA 94143

    Our research initiatives

    • UCSF-Division-of-Cardiology-Research-2x

      UCSF Division of Cardiology Research

      Researchers at the UCSF Division of Cardiology investigate all aspects of heart disorders, from how disease develops to who is most at risk, with an emphasis on translating key findings into more effective care.

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    (888) 689-8273

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