CONTENTS -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Chapter 1. Advanced Heart Failure -- EPIDEMIOLOGY -- Epidemiological Scope -- Classification and Staged Therapy of Advanced Heart Failure -- Prognosis of Advanced Heart Failure -- ManagementOverview -- Clinical Presentation and Pathophysiology of Heart Failure -- Specific Underlying Disease Conditions in Heart Failure -- Risk Stratification in Advanced Heart Failure -- Behavioral Interventions in Advanced Heart Failure -- Pharmacological Treatment -- Resynchronization -- Defibrillator -- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery -- Mitral Valve Surgery -- Left Ventricular Geometry Restoration -- Cardiac Transplantation -- Advanced Heart Failure Treatment Algorithm -- Definition of Mechanical Circulatory Support -- General Definition -- Specific Forms -- Evolution of Mechanical Circulatory Support -- Early History -- Individual Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices -- Thoratec -- WorldHeart -- MicroMed -- Jarvik Heart -- Arrow LionHeart -- CardioWest -- Abiomed -- MEDOS -- Ventracor -- BerlinHeart -- Terumo -- CorAide -- EvaHeart -- HeartWare -- Chapter 2. Evaluation -- Referral Network -- Advanced Heart Failure Referral Network Logistics -- Initial Encounter -- Initial Presentation -- Tests -- General Rationale for Standardized Testing -- Specific Tests -- General Indications/Contraindications -- MCSD Risk Prediction -- ISHLT: Consensus Guidelines 2006 for MCSD Therapy -- Nursing Care Aspects of Nutritional Status -- Social, Family, Religious, and Personal Issue Assessments -- Bridge-To-Transplantation Mechanical Circulatory Support -- Indications for MCSD Implantation as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation -- Bridge-to-Recovery Mechanical Circulatory Support -- Destination Mechanical Circulatory Support -- Evaluation for Destination Mechanical Circulatory Support -- Current Destination MCSD Indications.

Columbia University Medical Center Criteria for Destination MCSD Implantation (July 2003) -- Differential Indications by MCSD Type -- Advanced Heart Failure: Phenotype and Support Duration as Major Criteria -- Uncertainty Principle of Destination vs. Bridging Intention -- TeamRecommendation -- Consensus Processes in the Team -- Urgency of MCSD Recommendation (Based on Heart Failure Risk) -- Patient Decision -- Team Behavior If Patient Declines Team Recommendation -- Chapter 3. Management -- Preoperative Situation -- Standardized Preparation for MCSD Surgery -- Pre-MCSD Management -- Intraoperative Situation -- Postoperative Situation -- General Principles of Postoperative Management After MCSD Implantation -- Postoperative Cardiac Management -- Postoperative Pulmonary Management -- Postoperative Renal Management -- Postoperative Hematological/Coagulation Management -- Postoperative Immunological/Infection Management -- Postoperative Gastrointestinal Management -- Postoperative Metabolic Management -- Postoperative Neurological Management -- Postoperative Psychiatric Management -- Postoperative Musculoskeletal/Physiotherapeutic Management -- Long-Term Follow-Up -- Time of Discharge -- MCSD Weaning: Rationale and Protocols -- Living with the MCSD -- Differential Management by MCSD Type -- MCSD-Related Differences -- Chapter 4. Outcomes -- Outcome Assessment/Prognostication -- The Challenges of Generating Evidence on the Outcomes of MCSD Therapy -- The Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Database of the ISHLT -- US Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Cardiac Support (US INTERMACS) -- Cardiac Transplant Research Database -- Bridge-to-Transplantation Mechanical Circulatory Support -- Observational Non-RCT Studies -- Bridge-To-Recovery Mechanical Circulatory Support -- NHLBI Strategy on MCSD-Assisted Cardiac Recovery.

Observational Non-RCT Studies -- Mechanisms of Cardiac Recovery During MCSD Support -- Destination Mechanical Circulatory Support -- Randomized Clinical Trial Evidence: The REMATCH Trial -- Observational Non-RCT Studies -- Abiomed -- Abiomed BVS 5000 Experience -- Abiomed AB 5000 Experience -- Thoratec -- Thoratec VAD -- Heartmate -- Observational Studies -- Novacor -- Observational Non-RCT Studies -- Debakey -- BTT Safety and Feasibility Trial -- Jarvik 2000 -- Feasibility Study -- Other Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices -- Cardiowest TAH -- AbioCor TAH -- Differential Outcomes by MCSD Type -- Chapter 5. Complications -- Multiorgan Failure -- Right Heart Failure -- Right Heart Failure De.nition -- Center Experience with Right Heart Failure -- Arrhythmia -- Ventricular Arrhythmia De.nition -- Center Experience -- Infection -- Infection Definitions -- RCT Studies -- Observational Non-RCT Studies -- Mechanisms of MCSD-Related Infections -- Bleeding/Hemolysis -- Bleeding/Hemolysis Definitions -- Observational Non-RCT Studies -- Mechanisms of MCSD-Related Coagulopathy -- Renal Dysfunction -- Renal Dysfunction Definition -- Observational Non-RCT Studies -- Respiratory Dysfunction -- Respiratory Dysfunction Definition -- Observational Non-RCT Studies -- Gastrointestinal Dysfunction -- Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Definition -- Observational Non-RCT Studies -- Malnutrition -- Clinical Experience -- Neurological Dysfunction -- Neurological Dysfunction Definition -- RCT Studies -- Psychiatric Dysfunction -- Psychiatric Episode Definition -- Observational Center Experience -- Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Dysfunction -- Device Dysfunction Definition -- Center Experience with Device Dysfunction -- Monitoring for MCSD Dysfunction and Failure -- Mechanical Circulatory Support Device Failure -- Device Failure Definition.

Center Experience with Device Failure -- Differential Complications by MCSD Type -- HeartMate I vs. Novacor -- Pulsatile vs. Rotary MCSDs -- Chapter 6. Research Strategies -- Outcomes Research -- Research Directions in MCSD Outcomes -- Basic and Translational Research -- Active Myocardial Recovery Strategies -- Xenotransplantation -- Collaborative US SCCOR "Biology of Long-Term Human Mechanical Circulatory Support" Grant -- Differential Development by MCSD Type -- Design Development and MCSD Future -- Future Directions -- MCSD Development -- Impact of Nonpulsatility on Recipient Biology -- MCSD-Related Clinical Trials -- Chapter 7. Societal Perspectives -- Role of Governmental Agencies -- Industry, Academic Medicine, and Regulatory Agencies -- US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -- US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) -- US Perspective vs. International Perspective -- Quality Assurance Considerations -- Economic Considerations -- Current MCSD Costs -- Ethical Considerations -- General Ethical Problems Arising from MCSD Therapy -- Problem of Emergency Transfer of Patients for MCSD Evaluation -- End-of-Life Challenges and Columbia Protocol -- Philosophical Considerations -- Complementary Perspectives in Medicine -- Summary -- References -- Appendices -- Appendix 1: Evidence-Based Medicine Criteria -- Appendix 2: Contacts (Industry, Expert Societies, Agencies) -- Appendix 3: Infection Protocols -- Appendix 4: Anticoagulation Protocols -- Appendix 5: Weaning Protocols -- Appendix 6: Columbia University Evaluation Form -- Patient/Family Experience Vignettes -- Glossary -- Abbreviations -- Index.