title: [Circulatory mechanical support. State of the art].
abstract: Despite advances in medical treatment, the prognosis of advanced heart failure remains poor. The number of hospitalizations for heart failure exacerbations continues to increase and most patients will ultimately die of complications related to heart failure. Implantable left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are currently in use throughout the world with increasing frequency. This paper is a comprehensive review about mechanical support, focusing on a general description of the different LVAD, complications and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermedades Cardiovsculares, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mc-Nab
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zalaquett
mesh_terms: D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery