Care for Cardiomyopathy at University of Colorado Hospital

Why Choose Treatment for Cardiomyopathy at University of Colorado Hospital?

University of Colorado Hospital is nationally recognized for its heart failure and cardiomyopathy program. We manage the care of more than 800 patients within a six-state area, including: Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico and western Kansas and Nebraska.

We pride ourselves on providing individualized, around-the-clock care for both our patients and their families.

The hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) program is the regional referral center for HOCM management and for alcohol septal ablation procedures. The program has an outstanding safety record in performing surgical procedures on cardiomyopathy patients.

What is Cardiomyopathy?

Cardiomyopathy is disease of the heart muscle. It causes the heart to enlarge or become thick or rigid. If the disease progresses, the heart has more trouble pumping blood to the rest of the body, which leads to heart failure. Cardiomyopathy also can cause irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). Cardiomyopathy can be inherited or caused by:

• Coronary artery disease
• A heart attack
• High blood pressure
• Heart infection

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) affects as many as one-quarter of all cardiomyopathy patients. HOCM causes abnormal growth of muscle cells in the wall separating the right and left chambers of the heart. The thickened wall makes it more difficult for blood to be pumped out of the lower left chamber of the heart (the ventricle) into the main artery sending blood to the rest of the body (the aorta).

Departments Treating Cardiomyopathy

Cardiac & Vascular Center
Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora
(720) 848-5300

Cardiomyopathy/Heart Failure Research

Research efforts at University of Colorado Hospital allow us to provide patients with cutting-edge medical and surgical options not available elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain region. We are world leaders in developing medical and device therapies to improve your heart function and quality of life.

Cardiomyopathy Research Trials

The hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy program participates in the Baylor University National Registry to track data on alcohol septal ablation (ASA). Each patient who has ASA performed is offered enrollment in the registry. At each office visit with the patient after the procedure, data are collected and input into the registry to track patient outcomes and symptom reduction.

University of Colorado Hospital is participating in the HeartMate II Pivotal Clinical Trial. The HeartMate II is a small rotary-style blood pump. The purpose of the study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of the device as Destination Therapy (permanent implant).

Title – Thoratec HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS) for Destination Therapy

Purpose – To determine the safety and effectiveness of the Thoratec HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS) as Destination Therapy in end-stage heart failure patients who do not qualify for cardiac transplantation.

Sponsor – Thoratec Corp.