Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this review are to discuss the process of patient and mechanical device selection, operative management, and postoperative care with a focus on the management of right ventricular failure, anticoagulation strategies, device-related infections and neurologic sequelae.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, PubMed.
CONCLUSION
The number of patients with advanced heart failure due to either acquired or congenital heart disease continues to increase, necessitating in some mechanical circulatory support and in others cardiac transplantation. With a limited cardiac donor pool, mechanical circulatory support is playing a greater role in the management of this population. The perioperative morbidity associated with mechanical circulatory support has lessened with improved postoperative management strategies.
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