Queen's Medical Center Starts LVAD Implant Program

The Honolulu facility performed its first heart-assist device surgery on October 1 to treat patients with advanced heart failure.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Heart Disease

Queen's Medical Center Starts LVAD Implant Program

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Should your local community prioritize performing complex heart surgeries locally instead of sending patients away?

The Queen's Medical Center has launched Hawaii's first durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation program. A multidisciplinary team successfully performed the inaugural surgery on October 1.

Why it matters

This new program provides a critical bridge to heart transplants or long-term treatment for patients with advanced heart failure. It specifically aims to reduce the necessity for Hawaii residents to travel to the mainland for complex cardiac procedures.

The inaugural surgery lasted approximately 3.5 hours for a 34-year-old patient. The patient demonstrated significant progress, walking with assistance just days after the procedure.

The players

The Queen's Medical Center

This facility is a major Honolulu-based healthcare provider that serves as a teaching hospital and the location for Hawaii's first durable LVAD program.

The details

The LVAD is a mechanical pump surgically connected to the heart's left ventricle to improve blood circulation. A specialized multidisciplinary team of physicians and caregivers oversees the procedure and post-operative recovery process at the center.

October 1, 2026: The first continuous-flow LVAD implantation was performed.

Health Landscape

The introduction of this program aligns the local healthcare infrastructure with the national standard for LVAD destination therapy programs. It marks a significant shift in medical accessibility by bringing complex cardiac support capabilities directly to the islands.

This program offers local residents with advanced heart failure a viable alternative to traveling for life-saving heart surgery. Patients can now receive specialized mechanical circulatory support close to home, potentially reducing both travel costs and recovery stress.

The takeaway

Advancements in mechanical circulatory support allow more patients to receive complex cardiac treatments without leaving their home state. Residents with heart conditions should consult with their cardiologists to determine if local specialized procedures are appropriate for their health needs.