Incidence of temporary mechanical circulatory support before heart transplantation and impact on post-transplant outcomes

The use of tMCS before cardiac transplantation is increasing, with no difference in in-patient post-transplant mortality in the recent era between patients who did and did not receive tMCS but with increased complication rates among those who received tMCS. These data support the use of tMCS before cardiac transplantation in appropriately selected patients. Clinicians should balance the above outcomes when making decisions to implant tMCS, given the impending changes to the United Network for Organ Sharing heart allocation protocol.