[Mechanical circulatory support in heart failure]

Heart transplantation is an established therapy for end-stage cardiac disease. The number of organ donors is limited, and the mortality on the waiting list is increasing. To give these patients a chance to survive their waiting time, chronic mechanical circulatory support, especially left ventricular assist devices have been clinically established. The results with this therapy are encouraging. Because of these results trials using these devices as an alternative for cardiac transplantation are initiated. Due to the further development and miniaturization of such devices this indication will become more important. The most interesting patients are the one, in which devices could be explanted after chronic support, because their myocard has recovered. If we can find a way to identify such patients a new form of therapy for end-stage heart disease could be established.