EACTS/STS/AATS Guidelines on Temporary Mechanical Circulatory Support in Adult Cardiac Surgery 

The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS), The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), and The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) recently released joint consensus guidelines on use of temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS). This field has evolved significantly during the past decade. This document comprehensively discusses the goals of tMCS, device selection and various configurations, patient evaluation and selection, as well as contraindications to the use of such devices. These comprehensive guidelines also discuss their role in heart failure, including their use as a bridging strategy, monitoring and anesthetic management in patients with tMCS, postoperative management in the ICU—including ventilator strategies, renal management, anticoagulation techniques—as well as ultimate weaning and explantation techniques.