Step by step daily management of short-term mechanical circulatory support for cardiogenic shock in adults in the intensive cardiac care unit. A clinical consensus statement of the Association for Acute Cardio Vascular Care (ACVC) of the ESC, the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), the European branch of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (EuroELSO) and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS).

The use of mechanical circulatory support using percutaneous ventricular assist devices (pVAD) has increased rapidly during the last decade without substantial new evidence for their effect on outcome. In addition, many gaps in knowledge still exist such as timing and duration of support, hemodynamic monitoring, management of complications, concomitant medical therapy, and weaning protocols. This clinical consensus statement summarizes the consensus of an expert panel of the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC), European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESCIM), European Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (EuroELSO) and European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS). It provides practical advice regarding the management of patients managed with pVAD in the intensive care unit based on existing evidence and consensus on best current practice.