Mechanical circulatory support for advanced heart failure: patients and technology in evolution.

After nearly 50 years of clinical development, durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices are widely available for patients with advanced heart failure. The field of circulatory support has matured dramatically in recent years, thanks to the advent of smaller, rotary pumps. The resulting transition away from older pulsatile devices has been swift. Accelerated use of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for long-term support has changed the face of advanced heart failure care. MCS candidate selection, risk stratification, and management strategies are evolving in tandem with new pump technology, producing a shift in the profiles of patients being considered for MCS. Timely referral for MCS evaluation and appropriate implantation now depends on familiarity with recent advances in pump design and clinical outcomes. This review, the first in a series on Advances in Mechanical Circulatory Support, will focus on durable intracorporeal LVADs used in adults with advanced heart failure, and highlight the evolution in both patients and technology.