title: Ventricular assistance devices as bridge to transplantation.
abstract: The authors herein review the rationale and indications for the use of ventricular assistance devices as a bridge to heart transplantation and discuss the current evidence on the subject. The potential effects of device implantation on posttransplant outcomes and the therapeutic strategies in acute and elective cases are revised and illustrated.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Catholic University, L.go Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mgaudino@tiscali.it.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaudino
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernazzali
authors.forename: Piergiorgio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colizzi
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sani
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massetti
mesh_terms: D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Heart transplantation; Posttransplant outcomes; Therapeutic strategies; Ventricular assistance devices