Advanced heart failure and future of mechanical assist devices: A consensus report on cardiology and cardiovascular surgery

Abstract

Heart failure is a progressive disease. A considerable portion of patients reach an advanced or terminal phase later or sooner, despite all of the developments in diagnosis, management, and follow-up and alternatives which can slow the disease process. As well as the palliative care of the patient in the terminal phase, definite recognition of the patient with advanced disease is vital for the consideration of therapeutic options in this patient population. Overall management and care of patients with heart failure obligates a collaboration of multiple disciplines. In addition, patients with advanced heart failure should be managed by a "heart team", as indicated by the guideline recommendations, since it requires a close communication and collaboration among cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and other medical staff who are responsible for taking care of these patients. In Turkey, we have experienced physicians for managing patients with advanced heart failure. However, we are unlikely to be sufficient in the distribution of the centers and equal accessibility for all patients to therapeutic options. Hence, we still have more to do for the referral of eligible patients and patient circulation issues. This consensus report is developed to strengthen the connection between experienced and certified centers and the centers which take care of heart failure patients independent of the disease phase and other healthcare staff to increase awareness and to provide updated information for the current conditions of Turkey.