Ohio State is improving and saving lives with the most advanced heart failure treatments in central Ohio
What is heart failure?
Heart failure affects about five million adults in the United States. Heart failure, sometimes called congestive heart failure, is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough oxygenated blood to meet the needs of the body’s other organs. With this condition, the heart isn’t keeping up with the demands of the body at rest and at exercise.
Heart Failure Symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Weight gain
- Swelling of the lower extremities
- Fatigue
- Exercise intolerance
- Palpitations
- Loss of appetite
Congestive Heart Failure Causes
Many conditions that cause your heart to fail result in irreversible damage and, in some cases, may necessitate a heart transplant or mechanical cardiac support. Congestive heart failure is usually a sign of an underlying heart problem. In addition to affecting the heart's pumping efficiency, it interferes with normal kidney function. When the kidneys cannot properly eliminate sodium and waste from the body, the body retains excess fluid. There are also genetic components, or familial cardiomyopathy, this is why family genetics are very important.
Causes:
- Heart valve disease
- High blood pressure
- Infections of the heart valves or heart muscle
- Previous heart attacks
- Coronary artery disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congenital heart defects
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Chronic lung disease
- Pulmonary embolism
- Drug-induced heart failure
- Excessive sodium intake
- Hemorrhage
- Anemia
- Diabetes
Diagnosing Congestive Heart Failure
Ohio State's Heart and Vascular Center treats more than 2,000 heart failure patients each year. Our team collaborates on each patient's case to determine the best course of treatment.
Tests to diagnose congestive heart failure at Ohio State include:
- Chest X-Ray: A chest x-ray or radiograph is a picture of the heart and lungs including blood vessels, ribs and bones of the spine
- Echocardiogram: Also called echo, this test uses sound waves to assess the function and structure of the heart muscle and valves
- Electrocardiogram: A test that records the electrical activity of the heart
- B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Testing: This test detects a hormone released from the ventricles in response to increased wall tension that occurs with heart failure
Heart Failure Treatment
Treatment for congestive heart failure depends on the cause of the disease. Your doctor will decide which is right for you.
Treatment with medications
Medications include:
- Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Diruretics
- Vasodilators
- Antiarrhythmic medications
- Beta-blockers
- Aldosterone blockers
- Nitrates
- Digoxin
Other medications prescribed to increase heart strength, control rhythm problems and increase pumping action.
Treatment with Surgery
Surgery and procedures include:
- Biventricular packemaker/cardiac resynchronization therapy
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator
- Ventricular assist devices (mechanical circulatory support devices, artificial heart pumps)
- Heart transplant
- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)
- Mitral valve repair
- Mitral valve replacement
- Ventricular restoration surgery (surgical ventricular restoration)
Why Choose Ohio State For Heart Failure Care?
Ohio State’s Heart and Vascular Center has the most extensive congestive heart failure treatment program in central Ohio, treating more than 2,000 heart failure patients each year. At Ohio State, your care is managed by a multidisciplinary team of heart specialists and nurse practitioners who work in collaboration with nurses, pharmacists, social workers, dietitians and heart surgeons to provide both routine care and advanced treatment options not found elsewhere in central Ohio.
At Ohio State, you can keep your care local in Columbus throughout the entire spectrum of treating your condition. You don't have to travel great distances for your regular appointments, advanced procedures or follow-up care.
Our approach to treatment is to start with the simplest, least invasive steps, such as medication, lifestyle changes and sleep apnea evaluation. If symptoms persist, we move up to more invasive procedures only as you need it. For those requiring advanced treatment, we are the only program in the region performing implantation of artificial heart pumps, ventricular assist devices (VADs) and heart transplantation.
We completed our first heart transplant in 1986. With more nearly 500 heart transplants since then, our program remains central Ohio’s only adult heart transplant program. In addition, Ohio State was the fourth institution in the country certified to implant the temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart, which serves as a bridge to transplant for the most critically ill patients.
Patients at Ohio State are often the first to benefit from heart and vascular research done right here. If you have already been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and are looking for a second opinion, our heart experts may be able to help. Ohio State is home to a team leading the research and clinical trials to improve treatment of heart failure that may not be available elsewhere.
Resources for Patients
This series of videos provides education and helpful information for people diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
What is Heart Failure?
Ayesha Hasan, MD, a heart failure specialist at Ohio State’s Heart and Vascular Center, explains what heart failure is and the common symptoms and treatments for heart failure.
Heart Failure Treatment
With no previous history of heart disease, Lisa Hipp was surprised when doctors at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center's Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital diagnosed her with heart failure.
Treating the Sleep Apnea and Heart Failure Connection
Making connections with sleep apnea is aiding the treatment of patients with heart failure.
Why Choose Ohio State for Heart Failure Care
Heart failure specialist, Ayesha Hasan, MD, explains our care and approach
What is Advanced Heart Failure?
Advanced heart failure is when a heart becomes so weak that it no longer pumps enough blood to the rest of the body. Symptoms can include exercise intolerance, fatigue, fluid retention, swelling and shortness of breath. Sitaramesh Emani, MD, a cardiologist at The Ohio State Universitys Wexner Medical Center, is board-certified in both advanced heart failure and heart transplantation and provides the kind of specialized care patients with advanced heart failure require.
Ohio State Advances Heart Failure Care
Ohio State led the national study of a new heart failure monitoring device and was the first in the nation to use the device in patients after it received FDA approval.
Cardiac Care at Ohio State
Patients receiving care at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center have access to a large team of specialists, which can be helpful in diagnosing and treating difficult or unique cases.
Bob Garner: Advanced Heart Failure
Bob Garner suffered with congestive heart failure for years. Heart failure doctors at the Ross Heart Hospital created a treatment path for Bob that involved advanced therapies, including a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and, eventually, a heart transplant.
How Ohio State treated a unique heart failure
Brent Lampert, DO, an advanced heart failure specialist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital, explains how his team approached care for their patient Bob Garner, who was suffering from advanced heart failure.
Heart Failure Program Leaders
Our leaders
Garrie Haas, MD, FACC
Director, Heart Failure and Transplant Program
Dr. Haas is a professor of Clinical Medicine at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center and director of the Heart and Vascular Research Organization (HVRO).
Dr. Haas is routinely recognized as one of the “Best Doctors in America” and his articles and abstracts have been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and he is a frequent presenter on the topics of acute and chronic heart failure management. His research interests include heart failure and hemodynamic monitoring, heart failure disease management and cardiomyopathy.
Ayesha Hasan, MD
Medical Director, Heart Transplant Program
Dr. Hasan is the director of the Heart Failure Devices Clinic. She is an associate professor of Clinical Medicine and director of the heart failure and transplant fellowship at Ohio State.
Dr. Hasan is an invited lecturer on the local, national and international level, giving presentations on chronic heart failure and cardiac resynchronization therapy. Her articles have been published in peer-reviewed journals. She has a special interest in device therapy for heart failure, including biventricular pacing, hemodynamic monitoring and ventricular device support.
William Abraham, MD, FACP, FACC
Director, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and Deputy Director, Ohio State’s Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute
Dr. Abraham is routinely recognized as one of the “Best Doctors in America” and was the inaugural designated Chair of Excellence in Cardiovascular Medicine at Ohio State’s College of Medicine. He has co-edited a leading textbook on heart failure, has been a principal investigator in more than 100 multicenter clinical drug and device trials and has authored more than 600 professional works. Dr. Abraham earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowships in cardiology and heart failure/cardiac transplantation at the University of Colorado.
Our Doctors
William Abraham, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
98 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
19 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Garrie Haas, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
147 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
29 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Ayesha Hasan, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
116 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
18 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Rami Kahwash, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
89 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
20 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
- The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
- Outpatient Care Gahanna
Brandy Perkins, APRN-CNP
- Internal Medicine
- Nurse Practitioner What's this? A nurse practitioner is extensively trained to treat illness or disease and to prescribe medication to their patients. They work on teams with a licensed physician, but can treat patients with significant autonomy. Nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings, including primary care and various other medical and surgical specialties.
414 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
99 Patient Comments
Salman Bhatti, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
Bradley Shobe, DO
- Hospitalist
- Internal Medicine
- Osteopathic Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
Veronica Franco, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
146 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
25 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Carmen Skinner, DO
- Internal Medicine
- Osteopathic Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
- Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
John McConaghy, MD
- Family Medicine
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
215 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
47 Patient Comments
- Family Medicine at Thomas Rardin
Bryan Whitson, MD, PhD
- Cardiac Surgery
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
85 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
20 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Cheryl Bourne, APRN-CNP
- Family Medicine
- Nurse Practitioner What's this? A nurse practitioner is extensively trained to treat illness or disease and to prescribe medication to their patients. They work on teams with a licensed physician, but can treat patients with significant autonomy. Nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings, including primary care and various other medical and surgical specialties.
133 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
27 Patient Comments
Abigail Gamby, APRN-CNP
- Internal Medicine
- Nurse Practitioner What's this? A nurse practitioner is extensively trained to treat illness or disease and to prescribe medication to their patients. They work on teams with a licensed physician, but can treat patients with significant autonomy. Nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings, including primary care and various other medical and surgical specialties.
108 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
27 Patient Comments
Stephanie Beck, APRN-CNP
- Internal Medicine
- Nurse Practitioner What's this? A nurse practitioner is extensively trained to treat illness or disease and to prescribe medication to their patients. They work on teams with a licensed physician, but can treat patients with significant autonomy. Nurse practitioners work in a variety of settings, including primary care and various other medical and surgical specialties.
James Hodsden, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
165 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
43 Patient Comments
- Outpatient Care Gahanna
Philip Binkley, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
107 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
15 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Ellin Gafford, MD
- Palliative Medicine - Internal Medicine
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
Peter Lee, MD, PhD, MPH
- Cardiac Surgery
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
63 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
9 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Anna Morrison, PA-C
- Surgery
- Physician Assistant What's this? A physician assistant is extensively trained to treat illness or disease and prescribes medication to their patients. They work on teams with a licensed physician, but can treat patients with significant autonomy. Physician assistants work in a variety of settings, including primary care and various other medical and surgical specialties.
Ray Hershberger, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
38 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
4 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Sakima Smith, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
- Outpatient Care Gahanna
Nahush Mokadam, MD
- Cardiac Surgery
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Ragavendra Baliga, MBBS
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
119 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
23 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Jim Liu, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
110 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
43 Patient Comments
- Outpatient Care Upper Arlington
- Heart and Vascular Center at Memorial Health
Brent Lampert, DO
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Osteopathic Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
55 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
10 Patient Comments
- Outpatient Care Gahanna
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital
Jodi Grandominico, MD
- Internal Medicine
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
394 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
76 Patient Comments
- Stoneridge Medical Services
Scott Maffett, MD
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
96 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
16 Patient Comments
- Outpatient Care Upper Arlington
Gregory Rushing, MD
- Cardiac Surgery
- Physician What's this? A physician, or doctor, is extensively trained to diagnose and treat complex medical problems. Often, physicians focus their practice on certain disease categories, treatment methods or patient types. Physicians can diagnose and treat illness, prescribe medication, offer medical consultation and advice, perform surgery and more.
96 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
18 Patient Comments
- Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital