Trends in long-term mechanical circulatory support for advanced heart failure in the UK

Aims Heart transplantation (HTx) is limited by the scarcity of suitable donor hearts. Consequently, more patients with advanced heart failure require a ventricular assist device (VAD). We report UK activity, trends, and outcome for long‐term VAD support as a bridging therapy to HTx. Methods and results Patients were grouped into three eras: E1, February 2004–March 2006; E2, April 2006–March 2009; and E3, April 2009–March 2011. Exclusions were patients who received isolated short‐term support or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation without prior or subsequent long‐term VAD support. A total of 247 patients received VAD support; 202 left ventricular (LVAD) support alone and 45 both left and right ventricular support. Activity increased over time, from 36 patients implanted in E1 to 123 in E3. Overall, 46 patients received a first‐generation device, 80 a second‐generation device, and 121 a third‐generation device. Use of third‐generation devices increased from