MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT

Mechanical circulatory support- 'support of the failing heart' - is probably the biggest challenge in current cardiology and cardiac surgery. This book explores and discusses all current and proposed aspects of treatment available worldwide. Included is an overview of history, extracorporeal gas exchange, short, medium, and longer term devices, and discussion of various clinical indications. There are special problem sections, discussion of ethical economic, and regulatory issues, and a section on 'biological' assist-xenotransplantation and skeletal myoplasty.