AHA Use of Mechanical Circulatory Support: Ambulatory and Community Patient Care Guideline Summary - Guideline Central

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the American Heart Association.

Document Overview

Document Title: Use of Mechanical Circulatory Support: Ambulatory and Community Patient Care

Authoring Society: American Heart Association

Document Publication Date: May 30, 2017

Page Last Reviewed/Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Document Type: Consensus

Country of Publication: United States

Full Text Freely Available: Yes

Full Text Guideline: www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000507

Source Citation: Cook JL, Colvin M, Francis GS, et al. American Heart Association Heart Failure and Transplantation Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation; Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; and Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia. Recommendations for the Use of Mechanical Circulatory Support: Ambulatory and Community Patient Care: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2017 Jun 20;135(25):e1145-e1158.

Supplemental Implementation Resources

Quick-Reference Guide

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives: The aim of this document is to provide guidance for nonexperts in MCS and to facilitate the informed assessment, stabilization, and transport of the patient with MCS back to the MCS center for definitive therapy. In addition, the principles herein provide a foundation for emergency management and a framework to address the management of known MCS-associated complications and expected comorbid medical problems.

Scope: Assessment and Screening, Management

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D001775 - Blood Circulation

D001243 - Assisted Circulation

Keywords: continuous-flow devices, mechanical circulatory support

Target Patient Population: patients with mechanical circulatory support (MCS)

Health Care Settings: Ambulatory, Emergency Care, Hospital, Medical Transportation

Intended Users: Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Paramedic/EMT, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Number of Source Documents: 416

Includes peer/external review process?: Yes

Includes public comment process?: No

Methodologist involvement?: Yes

Patient involvement?: No

Includes multi-disciplinary group?: Yes

Includes systematic review?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?: No

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?: No

Discloses funding source?: Yes

Discloses conflicts of interest?: Yes

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?: No