Advanced Heart Failure

The Heart & Vascular Institute's Advanced Heart Failure Program enables patients who have been diagnosed with congestive heart disease to manage their health and improve the quality of their lives through early symptom recognition, continuity of care, diet planning and medication management.

One-on-one clinic visits or group educational programs are available where symptoms of heart failure, medications, diet and fluid restrictions are reviewed in detail with patients and their families. 

Routine follow-up telephone calls are made in order to assess progress and to help answer any questions patients may have. Personalized nutritional consultation with a registered dietician is also available to design a balanced program that meets the individual needs of each patient.

The Congestive Heart Disease Center at Hartford Hospital is among the few centers in the area to offer a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, with nursing staff and physicians working as an integrated team, strictly focusing on disease management.


Understanding Congestive Heart Failure

When the weakened heart muscle loses its ability to pump efficiently, the life-threatening condition is called congestive heart failure (CHF). For nearly 5 million aging Americans, congestive heart failure brings frightening trips to the emergency room and recurrent hospitalizations.

In the United States, 550,000 new cases of CHF are diagnosed each year. The condition usually develops gradually as the result of a heart attack, uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart defect or viral infection.

During a heart attack, a sudden clot blocks a coronary artery, sometimes damaging the oxygen-starved heart muscle permanently. When the heart can’t pump forcefully enough, blood flow drops as the heart struggles to supply oxygen and nutrients to the brain and vital organs. The chambers of the heart stretch to hold more blood, but over time, the heart muscle walls weaken and pumping slows. The kidneys respond by causing the body to retain water and sodium. Blood backs up into the veins leading to the heart, excess fluid pools in the lower legs and ankles, and the belly becomes swollen and congested. Fluid fills the lungs, causing shortness of breath, especially when lying down.

When so much fluid accumulates that diuretics (water pills) no longer work, the usual treatment is hospitalization for intravenous (IV) administration of medications. In hospitals across the country, congestive heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization for patients age 65 and over.


Our Advanced Heart Failure Program Locations:
 

Meet our Advanced Heart Failure Specialists:

Name Specialties Location
Arora, Sabeena, MD Arora, Sabeena, MD
4.9 /5
83 surveys
860.972.1212
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
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  • Hartford
  • Middletown
  • Norwich
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Awa, Wendy, APRN Awa, Wendy, APRN
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Bridgeport
Bell, Jennifer, MD Bell, Jennifer, MD 860.972.1212
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
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  • Hartford
  • Bridgeport
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Cosgrove, Christine Felice, APRN 860.972.1212
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Hartford
Gluck, Jason Aaron, DO, FACC Gluck, Jason Aaron, DO, FACC 860.972.1212
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
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  • Hartford
  • Hartford
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Hawes, Zoe Cathleen, APRN Hawes, Zoe Cathleen, APRN 860.886.0023
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Norwich
Jaiswal, Abhishek, MD Jaiswal, Abhishek, MD
4.9 /5
63 surveys
860.972.1212
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
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  • Hartford
  • Bridgeport
  • Fairfield
  • Hamden
  • Hartford
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Mai, Xingchen, MD Mai, Xingchen, MD
4.9 /5
63 surveys
860.972.1212
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Echocardiography
  • Internal Medicine
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  • Hartford
  • Norwich
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Mellad, Dane, PA-C Mellad, Dane, PA-C 860.972.1212
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Hartford
Piani, Kassi, APRN 860.972.1212
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Hartford
Radojevic, Joseph Anthony, MD Radojevic, Joseph Anthony, MD 860.972.1212
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
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  • Hartford
Rose Bovino, Leonie, APRN Rose Bovino, Leonie, APRN
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Bridgeport
Savaria, Mary Ann, APRN Savaria, Mary Ann, APRN
4.9 /5
92 surveys
860.886.0023
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Norwich
Scatola, Andrew, MD Scatola, Andrew, MD
4.9 /5
55 surveys
860.972.1212
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
  • Echocardiography
  • Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology
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  • Hartford
  • Bloomfield
  • Hartford
  • Winsted
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Surprenant, Dawn, APRN, FNP Surprenant, Dawn, APRN, FNP 860.972.1212
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Hartford
Vlismas, Peter Paul, MD Vlismas, Peter Paul, MD 860.972.1212
  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
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  • Hartford