[Ventricular long-term support with implantable continuous flow pumps: on the way to a gold standard in the therapy of terminal heart failure].

Mechanical circulatory support nowadays represents an important option in the treatment of patients with advanced heart insufficiency. Once developed as a bridging to heart transplantation, it is now a valuable option for permanent support in patients for whom a heart transplantation is not possible due to contraindications or a lack of available organs. Furthermore, it can be used as a bridging to myocardial recovery and explantation. The number of implantations of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) has clearly increased in recent years and approximately one half of these implantations is already carried out in centers not specialized in transplantations. This development necessitates that every practicing physician is aware of the basic principles of mechanical circulatory support and with the possible complications. This article gives a summary of the current state of the technology and treatment of patients with long-term VADs.