title: Care of patients with heart failure and the use of ventricular assist devices.
abstract: Heart failure is becoming increasingly common as the population ages. Ventricular assist devices are used as a bridge for patients whose heart failure can no longer be controlled by medication and require a heart transplant. This article examines the care, rehabilitation and education of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust, Harefield Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex. m.hipkin@rbh.nthames.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hipkins
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014850:Waiting Lists