Left ventricular assist devices: an evolving journey

Heart failure (HF) consists a global and continuously growing health problem characterized by excessive morbidity and mortality with furthermore significant financial implications regarding treatment costs. Even though orthotopic heart transplantation has proven to be the preferred method of choice for advanced heart failure patients, organ donations are failing to meet clinical needs. This disparity between organ supply and demand has in part promoted the witnessed expansion in the field of mechanical circulatory support devices. At present continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are the option of choice for advanced heart failure patients requiring long-term mechanical circulatory support.