Abstract
Summary This paper presents a descriptive study of two patients who were waiting for cardiac transplantation. Both patients were haemodynamically supported with mechanical extracorporeal circulation using a ventricular assist device (VAD). As this is a relatively new piece of equipment in the intensive care unit, this article attempts to familiarise the reader with it. The VAD continuously displays the patients' cardiac output and so allows physiotherapists to monitor accurately the cardiovascular response to physiotherapy treatment. Physiotherapy problems and subsequent management of patients on the VAD is discussed. The potential role of physiotherapists in the treatment of patients supported by the VAD is growing. This is addressed in the light of the literature.
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