Banner–University Medical Center Phoenix’s Advanced Heart Failure Program recently completed its 100th successful heart transplant since the program started three years ago.

It is the only hospital in the state with a comprehensive heart failure center, according to a Banner press release.

The first transplant was completed in February 2020. The program has continued to grow, outperforming the national average. Current post-transplant survival rates after one year are 95%.

A vital part of the transplant program’s success is the ability to use short and long term mechanical circulatory support devices to bridge patient to transplant, the press release notes. This is the only program in Arizona implanting both left ventricular assist devices and Total Artificial Hearts, and has the highest survival rate in the world for patients receiving an artificial heart in 2022 and 2023.

Additionally, in collaboration with the Banner–University Medical Center Phoenix’s Kidney Transplant Program, 12 dual organ heart-kidney transplants have been performed in this time with outstanding outcomes.

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate this important milestone for our program, which is a leading destination for patients suffering from heart failure not only here in Arizona, but in the southwestern region and around the entire country as well,” Dr. Francisco Arabia, Advanced Heart Failure Program physician executive, stated.

Heart failure, which occurs when the heart can’t pump enough blood and oxygen to support other organs in the body, affects about 6.2 million people in the United States. Common symptoms can include shortness of breath with activity or when lying down, fatigue, swelling in the legs or feet, a rapid heartbeat, and coughing or wheezing.

Banner–University Medical Center is located at 1111 E. McDowell Road, in Phoenix.