Updated definitions of adverse events for trials and registries of mechanical circulatory support: A consensus statement of the mechanical circulatory support academic research consortium

Over 25 years ago, it became clear that heart transplantation would become a treatment option for only a limited group of carefully selected patients with advanced heart failure (HF) because of limited donor heart organ availability and restrictive transplant eligibility criteria.1 This reality energized research focused on clinical applications of implantable left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for long-term mechanical circulatory support (MCS).2,3 Applying LVAD therapy as a bridge to transplant not only reduced transplant waiting list mortality but also provided an opportunity to explore the feasibility of longer-term durable LVAD support for the ultimate application of LVAD support as permanent therapy.