title: Circulatory assist devices in heart failure patients.
abstract: Optimal medical therapy may ameliorate acute cardiogenic shock and long-term congestive heart failure symptoms; however, in certain cases mechanical circulatory assistance may be helpful or even required. Different devices can be considered based on the anticipated duration of need and the acuity of the cardiovascular failure being treated. A working knowledge of balloon pumps and ventricular assist devices, their indications, function, and potential complications, allows the physician to provide optimal care for those patients presenting with such a device.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. brian.hiestand@osumc.edu
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Hiestand
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D004867:Equipment Design; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000628:therapy*