title: Left ventricular assist devices: current controversies and future directions.
abstract: Advanced heart failure is a growing epidemic that leads to significant suffering and economic losses. The development of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) has led to improved quality of life and long-term survival for patients diagnosed with this devastating condition. This review briefly summarizes the short history and clinical outcomes of LVADs and focuses on the current controversies and issues facing LVAD therapy. Finally, the future directions for the role of LVADs in the treatment of end-stage heart failure are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Louisville, 201 Abraham Flexner Way, Suite 1200, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Schumer
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Louisville, 201 Abraham Flexner Way, Suite 1200, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Louisville, 201 Abraham Flexner Way, Suite 1200, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: Gretel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monreal
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Louisville, 201 Abraham Flexner Way, Suite 1200, Louisville, KY 40202, USA mark.slaughter@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Slaughter
mesh_terms: D006333:Heart Failure; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Review; Ventricular assist device