Preface

Heart failure is a condition of diminished blood pumping by the heart that causes poor delivery of oxygen and nutrients to vital organs and the rest of the body. Heart failure is a devastating disease with high mortality. Its incidence is expected to rise by nearly 30% from the current 6.2 million affected people to almost 8 million by 2030 in the United States alone. This book covers broad but important aspects of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) with ventricular assist devices (VAD) that support patients with advanced and end-stage heart failure.

This book, a collection of review papers from experienced and knowledgeable physicians and scientists, provides an overview of the history of MCS devices, including their development, optimization, and application to the treatment and management of heart failure. The authors emphasize the importance of diagnosis and treatment strategies for common risks and complications that patients encounter during MSC, such as arrhythmias, recurrent heart failure, aortic insufficiency, and acute hypertension. These complications increase morbidity and mortality in patients with VAD. The chapter that describes the use of implanted cardioverter defibrillators in various clinical situations related to VAD is a valuable resource for medical personnel in preventing sudden death and complications during MCS therapy. The book also includes comprehensive reviews of basic, translational, and human research focusing on cardiac remodeling and the underlying molecular, cellular, and circulatory mechanisms that evolve in response to ventricular unloading with MCS devices. A chapter on assessment and management for better delivery of MCS care to local communities, particularly those patients who live in rural and remote areas, adds valuable information that can be adopted in many hospitals to improve the benefits and quality of VAD care.

The editors are delighted to present *Ventricular Assist Devices – Advances and Applications in Heart Failure* for a broad audience of physicians, surgeons, and scientists who work to save the lives of patients with heart failure.

> **Enkhsaikhan Purevjav, MD, Ph.D., FAHA** The Heart Institute, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

> > Children's Foundation Research Institute, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
