1. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS  231
2. INTRODUCTION  231
3. METHODS  232
4. PATIENT EVALUATION AND TIMING OF IMPLANTATION  232
5. PREOPERATIVE ORGAN FUNCTION OPTIMIZATION  234
6. CONCOMITANT CARDIAC CONDITIONS INCLUDING ARRHYTHMIAS  235
7. MANAGEMENT OF NON-CARDIAC COMORBIDITIES  236
8. SYSTEM SELECTION  238
9. ANAESTHETIC MANAGEMENT  240
10. OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE  241
11. PAEDIATRIC OPERATIVE TECHNIQUES  243
12. POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT  244
13. ANTICOAGULATION  245
14. REHABILITATION  247
15. OUTPATIENT CARE  247
16. MYOCARDIAL RECOVERY  249
17. PUMP THROMBOSIS AND OTHER LATE ADVERSE EVENTS  250
18. AORTIC INSUFFICIENCY AND LATE RIGHT HEART FAILURE  253
19. INFECTION  254
20. END-OF-LIFE CARE  257
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL  258
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  258
REFERENCES  258