Center for Congestive Heart Failure

The Center for Congestive Heart Failure, the only such center in the region, is an area of special care at WVU. It provides IV inotropic therapy to stable outpatients with advanced heart failure, with a goal of improving functional level and avoiding hospitalization. The Center is an important resource for the state, reducing the number of emergency room visits and lowering health costs for heart patients.

Many patients receive treatment through medication. The treatments are especially useful for patients who are at the maximum dosage of other heart drugs, people awaiting a heart transplant, or people who have a heart muscle disease. The treatment also helps patients breathe more easily.

Another option for the intractable angina patient who fails to respond to conventional treatment is a non-invasive technique called Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP). This therapy involves placing blood pressure cuffs on the lower extremities to force blood from the heart into the vessels.