Enhanced external counterpulsation: bringing the concept of the intraaortic balloon pump to the outpatient setting.

Enhanced external counterpulsation can now be used in patients with congestive heart failure. As our population ages, we will see more patients with this challenging diagnosis. The authors discuss this exciting treatment.

Current and potential applications of left ventricular assist devices.

The syndrome of heart failure is epidemic, causing increased hospital admissions, poor survival rates, and a dismal quality of life. Treatment choices include pharmacologic, psychological, and surgical interventions. Recent data suggest that mechanical heart pumps, or assist devices, are viable additions or alternatives to transplantation in management of advanced heart failure.