Mechanical cardiac circulatory support has been established as a benefactory treatment modality for patients with end stage heart failure. There is a variety of ventricular assist devices (VAD) that are available for implantation depending on patients’ clinical characteristics, type of heart failure and intention of treatment. Current indications of VAD placement are: a) bridge to transplant, for patients who are transplant candidates but who will not survive waiting until an organ is available, b) destination therapy, for patients who are not transplant candidates, c) bridge to recovery, for patients in whom the native heart function may possibly recover... (excerpt
