Contents:

1. Indications for mechanical support
   1. Deterioration of an established prospective transplant recipient
   2. Patient unable to be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass but is a candidate for “postcardiotomy” usage or “bridging” to transplantation
   3. Acute myocardial infarction with balloon-dependent left heart failure
      
      
2. Respiratory failure
   1. Indications for ECMO
   2. Alternatives to ECMO
      
      
3. Alternatives to mechanical devices
   1. Balloon pumping (left and right)
   2. Centrifugal devices
   3. Impeller devices
   4. Pulsatile devices
   5. Total artificial heart
      
      
4. Techniques of insertion
   1. Cardiac
   2. ECMO
      
      
5. Complications
   1. Blood trauma
   2. Thrombosis
   3. Bleeding
   4. Infection
      
      
6. Weaning the patient from support devices and the use of mechanical devices to “bridge” to transplantation
   1. Hemodynamic parameters used in weaning from cardiac support, criteria for weaning and rate of weaning
   2. Concept of “rehabilitation” of the bridging patient and modification of transplantation criteria for the bridging patient
      
      
7. Anticoagulation
   1. Requirements for various mechanical devices
   2. Detection of blood trauma
   3. Early detection of thrombotic problems