The Medical Center at Bowling Green performs 500th procedure using minimally-invasive heart pump

Published March 17, 2026

The Medical Center at Bowling Green has performed more than 500 procedures using the Impella with SmartAssist. This minimally-invasive heart pump can help patients recover more quickly after a cardiac event or procedure. Dr. Sardar Ijaz, an interventional cardiologist at Med Center Health, conducted the 500th procedure earlier this year.

The Impella is a temporary heart pump for patients whose hearts are too weak to pump blood on their own. Designed for long-duration support, the heart pump technology reduces the heart’s workload and oxygen demand while supplying much-needed blood and oxygen to other vital organs. By improving patients’ comfort and recovery the Impella can be helpful with patient stability and allows the heart muscle to recover.

“For patients with very weak hearts, Impella has transformed how we provide care,” said Dr. Ijaz. “It allows us to safely perform complex heart procedures in patients who are not candidates for open-heart surgery. By helping the heart pump during the procedure, the Impella gives us the stability we need to fully treat blockages and place stents correctly. The device also helps with weak hearts that need extra support to recover.”

With advanced technology options like the Impella heart pump, the teams at The Medical Center at Bowling Green provide life-saving care and recovery plans for patients who experience serious cardiac events.

“The Impella provides rapid cardiac support during critical moments, said Dr. Mohammad Abdul-Waheed, Interventional Cardiologist at Med Center Health. “This technology helps patients when it matters the most.”