[Postoperative management of patients undergoing left ventricular assist device implantation].

Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have become an important option for the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure. Unfortunately, patients undergoing LVAD-implantation still experience considerable perioperative morbidity and mortality. Right ventricular failure, bleeding, infections and device-associated problems represent the major postoperative complications. The present overview summarizes current strategies for preoperative risk estimation and for the prevention and treatment of frequently occurring perioperative complications.