The past, present, and future

Mechanical circulatory and respiratory support (MCRS) therapies are now an established feature of modern medicine. Substantial progress has been made in the MCRS field during the last decade, much of it built upon pioneering work carried out since the 1950s. Increasingly, international registries are recording a rapid expansion in the number of patients supported with MCRS devices and in the number of centers capable of providing these interventions. Improved technologies now offer hope to patients who even recently would have died of their illnesses. Work continues to develop newer, more sophisticated devices that limit the adverse effects and improve performance. In this chapter, we look forward to identify areas which will be important in the future of MCRS. In doing so, we consider both the technological and organizational factors that will influence the continued development of the field.