The heart specialists at Mayo Clinic in Florida offer all the diagnosis and treatment options described in these pages, including ventricular assist devices and heart transplantation.
Cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons work together to evaluate patients and develop the most appropriate treatment plan. In cases where a patient's myocarditis causes severe heart failure, a ventricular assist device (VAD) may be implanted with the hope that the patient's heart will recover. In this "bridge to recovery" use of the artificial heart, the VAD is removed once the heart is well.
Hospitalized patients are cared for on a specialized cardiothoracic surgery unit that incorporates state-of-the-art monitoring and a modern on-floor cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center. Comprehensive education, including heart and lung health and nutritional instruction, begins when patients are prepared for surgery and continues through recovery and the return home. An outpatient Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program also is available.
Myocarditis is treated by specialists in Cardiovascular Diseases, and possibly Cardiothoracic Surgery.
For appointments or more information, call the Central Appointment Office at 904-953-0853 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday, or complete an online appointment request form.