title: Focused review on transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of patients with continuous axial left ventricular assist devices.
abstract: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are systems for mechanical support for patients with end-stage heart failure. Preoperative, postoperative and comprehensive followup with transthoracic echocardiography has a major role in LVAD patient management. In this paper, we will present briefly the hemodynamics of axial-flow LVAD, the rationale, and available data for a complete and organized echocardiographic assessment in these patients including preoperative assessment, postoperative and long-term evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Topilsky
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maltais
authors.forename: Jae K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Fawn W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Atchison
authors.forename: Louis P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Perrault
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrier
authors.forename: Soon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park