The application of left ventricular assist devices is expanding beyond bridge-to-transplantation to include destination therapy and bridge-to-recovery for patients with end-stage heart failure.
May broaden LVAD candidacy in end-stage HF; leaves open rigorous prospective evaluation of outcomes and selection.
A pplication of mechanical cardiac support now requires consideration of a wider range of goals beyond bridging to transplantation to include destination therapy and perhaps bridging to recovery.1,2 Responsible dissemination of the technology requires identification of patient populations from which to select candidates most likely to benefit.At this early stage, benefit is most apparent against a high background mortality from end-stage heart failure.
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Stevenson et al. (2003) studied this question.
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