title: Ventricular assist devices and non-cardiac surgery.
abstract: The use of ventricular assist devices has expanded significantly since their approval by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States in 1994. In addition to this, the prevalence of heart failure continues to increase. We aim to provide an overview of perioperative considerations and management of these patients for non-cardiac surgery. We performed a Medline search for the words "ventricular assist device," "Heartmate" and "HeartWare" to gain an overview of the literature surrounding these devices, and chose studies with relevance to the stated aims of this review. Patients with ventricular assist devices are presenting more frequently for surgery not related to their cardiac pathology. As the mechanically supported population grows, general anesthesiologists will be faced with managing these patients, possibly outside of the tertiary care setting. The unique challenges of this patient population can best be addressed by a thorough understanding of ventricular assist device physiology and a multidisciplinary approach to care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center, 500, University drive, 17033, Hershey, PA, USA. sroberts4@hmc.psu.edu.
authors.forename: S Michael
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E Medical Centre Drive, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA. davidhov@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hovord
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Children`s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, 34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard, Suite 12NW40, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. kodavatigantir@email.chop.edu.
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kodavatiganti
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 E Medical Centre Drive, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA. ssathish@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Subramanian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sathishkumar
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D019990:Perioperative Care; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014481:United States; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*