The ISHLT/HFSA Guideline on Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support
Published 6 February 2023
Alexander M. Bernhardt, MD; Hannah Copeland, MD; Anita Deswal, MD, MPH; Jason Gluck, DO; Michael M. Givertz, MD
J Heart Lung Transplant Apr 2023;42(4):E1-64.
In spite of medical advances, cardiogenic and pulmonary shock are associated with high mortality and morbidity. The availability and use of acute or temporary mechanical support devices has grown over the years, with the goal of improving patient outcomes
by temporarily providing support to allow time for organ recovery or for longer-term decisions including transition to durable therapies.
A collaborative effort commissioned by the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) and the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) has developed this critically-needed critically-needed guideline for the management of patients requiring acute mechanical circulatory support (MCS).
The document covers:
- Definitions of cardiogenic and pulmonary shock
- Medical treatment and surgical interventions
- Management of patients supported with temporary devices
- Complications
- Special populations
- Social and ethical dilemmas
The writing groups for this document included multidisciplinary members from both societies with a focus on diversity in gender, geography, area of expertise, and level of seniority. This document is perfect for cardiologists, especially interventional and advanced heart failure, pulmonary-critical care specialists, intensivists, cardiothoracic surgeons, as well as referring providers.
Read at JHLTRelated Guidlines
-
Generic Drug Immunosuppression in Thoracic Transplantation
-
ISHLT Working Formulation of a Standardized Nomenclature for Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy—2010
-
ISHLT Advisory Statement on the Implications of Pandemic Influenza for Thoracic Organ Transplantation
-
The 2016 ISHLT Listing Criteria for Heart Transplantation: A 10-year Update
-
ISHLT Consensus Statement for the Standardization of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Lung Transplantation

