This book is a detailed practical guide to the use of ventricular assist devices and total artificial hearts to provide mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in patients with end-stage heart failure. It explains why MCS may be indicated, which patients require MCS, when and how to implant ventricular assist devices or a total artificial heart, and how to avoid potential complications of MCS. Management throughout the period of care is described, from preimplantation to follow-up, and both typical and atypical cases are discussed. The text features numerous helpful tips and tricks relating to surgical and nonsurgical management and is supported by a wealth of high-quality illustrations that document the preoperative evaluation and implantation techniques. Heart transplantation remains the gold standard for the treatment of patients suffering from end-stage heart failure, but the shortage of donors has led to an increase in the use of MCS. This book will assist all physicians, and especially cardiologists and anesthesiologists, who are involved in the care of these patients.

Dr. Antonio Loforte, MD, PhD 

Dr. Antonio Loforte received his Medical Degree from Catania University School of Medicine, Italy, and completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Italy, after a period of training at St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, Utrecht, The Netherlands. He completed a two-year cardiothoracic and transplantation surgery fellowship at the Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Germany, and then joined the  Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Division of Tranplant  and Assist Devices, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA, and the Klinic fur Herzchirurgie, Universitat Leipizig, Herzzentrum, Leipizig.

He became permanent staff surgeon at S. Camillo Hospital, Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Rome, Italy, and currently moved back as permanent staff surgeon to S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna University, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Transplantation, Italy.

Dr. Loforte’s main clinical areas of interest are Heart Tranplantation, Mechanical Circulatory Support therapy, Aortic Surgery, Minimally-Invasive Heart Surgery, OPCABG and new technologies in cardiac surgery.

Dr. Loforte’s main scientific and research areas of interest are Organ Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support (ECMO, VAD, TAH).

He got a European PhD Label in ‘Organ Transplantation’ awarded by Rome Tor Vergata University, Italy, and the dissertation title has been: "The role of Mechanical Circulatory Support in end-stage heart failure as bridge or alternative to Heart Transplantation".

He got, by time, 3 International Awards by such Societies as SITO, ASAIO and EACTS, respectively, on clinical reaserch studies focused on Mechanical Circulatory Support therapy.

He has published over 60 papers in peer-reviewed Journals, as well as 5 book chapters and he is author of more then 170 abstracts (communications) for International meetings. He is a reviewer for 19 International Journals and on the Editorial Board of 8.

He is active member of  SICCH, EACTS, ASAIO, ISHLT, RHICS, STS, EUROMACS.
Dr. Cristiano Amarelli, MD
Dr. Amarelli, is a cardiac nonacademic surgeon involved in the field of heart transplantation during the last 15 years with a strong scientific activity in the field of transplantation, mechanical valve and mechanical circulatory support.
Born in Naples he graduated in Naples at the Second University of Naples where he completed in 2003 his training in cardiovascular surgery.
He is an active promotor of heart donation for the European Cardiothoracic Transplant Association (ECTTA) stimulating and coordinating the writing process of the European Consensus Conference on thoracic donors, takes active part to the editorial board and to the historic committee of the ASAIO, and is active reviewer for manyjournals and international meetings.