[Postoperative management of patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation].

Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have become an important option for the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure. Unfortunately, patients undergoing LVAD-implantation still experience considerable perioperative morbidity and mortality. Right ventricular failure, bleeding, infections and device-associated problems represent the major postoperative complications. The present overview summarizes current strategies for preoperative risk estimation and for the prevention and treatment of frequently occurring perioperative complications. Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York.