[Future of advanced heart failure and mechanical support devices: A Cardiology-Cardiovascular Surgery Consensus Report].
Heart failure is a progressive disease. A considerable number of patients eventually reach an advanced or terminal phase, in spite of developments in diagnostic procedure, alternative treatments that can slow progression, management, and follow-up. In addition to palliative care of patients in the terminal phase, accurate recognition of advanced disease is vital in the determination of therapeutic options. Overall management of patients with heart failure requires the collaboration of professionals from multiple disciplines. Still, patients with advanced heart failure should be managed by a "heart team," as indicated by guidelines; communication and collaboration among cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and other medical staff responsible for patient care is necessary. While our country has physicians experienced in the management of patients with advanced heart failure, these professionals are not distributed evenly across the country, and equitable access to therapeutic options is not provided. Hence, progress has yet to be made regarding appropriate referrals and patient circulation. The aims of the present consensus report are to strengthen the connection between certified, experienced centers and those that care for patients irrespective of disease phase and healthcare staff, as well as to raise awareness and provide information regarding conditions in Turkey.
Department of Cardiology, Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey. mehmet.birhan.yilmaz@tkd.org.tr.
Mehmet Birhan
MB
Yılmaz
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Ahmet Rüçhan
AR
Akar
Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Ahmet
A
Ekmekçi
Department of Cardiology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
Sanem
S
Nalbantgil
Department of Cardiology, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Leyla Elif
LE
Sade
Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Mehmet
M
Eren
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Siyami Ersek Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
Gökçen
G
Orhan
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Özbaran
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
Tahir
T
Yağdı
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Şeref Alp
ŞA
Küçüker
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Katip Çelebi University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
Ali
A
Gürbüz
Department of Cardiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Lale
L
Tokgözoğlu
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002309:Cardiology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D032921:Consensus; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D014421:Turkey