BACKGROUND: Mechanical circulatory support with the Berlin Heart EXCOR pediatric ventricular assist device (VAD) has been used successfully in Europe for children with cardiac failure. Eighty-seven devices have been placed in North America through February 2007. We describe our single-center experience in 8 children. METHODS: Eight children (ages 4 to 55 months), with median weight of 9.6 kg and body surface area of 0.48 m(2), received the Berlin Heart VAD as a bridge to transplantation. All patients were in cardiogenic shock requiring multiple inotropes. Primary diagnoses were idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 4), congenital heart disease (n = 3) and restrictive cardiomyopathy (n = 1). After device insertion, all patients were treated with an anti-coagulant (heparin or coumadin) and one or more platelet inhibitors (aspirin with clopidogrel or dipyridamole). RESULTS: Five patients received support with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and 3 with a biventricular device (BiVAD). Duration of support ranged from 2 to 234 days (median 57 days). Five patients (63%) were successfully bridged to transplantation; of these, 4 were discharged home and 1 died from early graft failure. Five patients developed post-operative neurologic events. Of these 5 events, 4 could be explained by embolism or hemorrhage. Device exchange was performed in 4 patients in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS: In selected children, the Berlin Heart VAD can be used as a bridge to transplantation. In contrast to the published European experience, neurologic events occur frequently. Anti-coagulation and platelet inhibition strategies continue to evolve. Device exchange is technically feasible at the bedside and should be considered at the earliest visualization of thrombus formation.
BACKGROUND: Mechanical circulatory support with the Berlin Heart EXCOR pediatric ventricular assist device (VAD) has been used successfully in Europe for children with cardiac failure. Eighty-seven devices have been placed in North America through February 2007. We describe our single-center experience in 8 children. METHODS: Eight children (ages 4 to 55 months), with median weight of 9.6 kg and body surface area of 0.48 m(2), received the Berlin Heart VAD as a bridge to transplantation. All patients were in cardiogenic shock requiring multiple inotropes. Primary diagnoses were idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 4), congenital heart disease (n = 3) and restrictive cardiomyopathy (n = 1). After device insertion, all patients were treated with an anti-coagulant (heparin or coumadin) and one or more platelet inhibitors (aspirin with clopidogrel or dipyridamole). RESULTS: Five patients received support with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and 3 with a biventricular device (BiVAD). Duration of support ranged from 2 to 234 days (median 57 days). Five patients (63%) were successfully bridged to transplantation; of these, 4 were discharged home and 1 died from early graft failure. Five patients developed post-operative neurologic events. Of these 5 events, 4 could be explained by embolism or hemorrhage. Device exchange was performed in 4 patients in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS: In selected children, the Berlin Heart VAD can be used as a bridge to transplantation. In contrast to the published European experience, neurologic events occur frequently. Anti-coagulation and platelet inhibition strategies continue to evolve. Device exchange is technically feasible at the bedside and should be considered at the earliest visualization of thrombus formation.
Authors: William J Weiss; Elizabeth L Carney; J Brian Clark; Rebecca Peterson; Timothy K Cooper; Thomas P Nifong; Christopher A Siedlecki; Dennis Hicks; Bradley Doxtater; Branka Lukic; Eric Yeager; John Reibson; Joshua Cysyk; Gerson Rosenberg; William S Pierce Journal: ASAIO J Date: 2012 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.872
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Authors: David N Rosenthal; Christopher S Almond; Robert D Jaquiss; Christine E Peyton; Scott R Auerbach; David R Morales; Deirdre J Epstein; Ryan S Cantor; Robert L Kormos; David C Naftel; Ryan J Butts; Nancy S Ghanayem; James K Kirklin; Elizabeth D Blume Journal: J Heart Lung Transplant Date: 2016-03-17 Impact factor: 10.247
Authors: Xufeng Wei; Tieluo Li; Shuying Li; Ho Sung Son; Pablo G Sanchez; Pablo Sanchez; Shuqiong Niu; A Claire Watkins; Christopher DeFilippi; Robert Jarvik; Zhongjun J Wu; Bartley P Griffith Journal: J Heart Lung Transplant Date: 2013-01 Impact factor: 10.247