Palliation Plus Ventricular Assist Device Insertion in 15 Neonates and Infants With Functionally Univentricular Circulation.

BACKGROUND: We report 15 high-risk neonates and infants with functionally univentricular circulation stabilized with initial surgical palliation plus ventricular assist device (VAD) insertion (PALLIATION+VAD) in preparation for transplantation. METHODS: Fifteen functionally univentricular patients with ductal-dependent systemic circulation (8 hypoplastic left heart syndrome, 1 hypoplastic left heart syndrome-related malformation: 7 neonates, 2 infants) or ductal-dependent pulmonary circulation (6 hypoplastic right heart syndrome: 5 neonates, 1 infant) presented with anatomical and/or physiological features associated with increased risk for conventional univentricular palliation (large coronary sinusoids with ventricular-dependent coronary circulation, severe systemic atrioventricular valvar regurgitation, cardiogenic shock, or restrictive atrial septum). PALLIATION+VAD for patients with ductal-dependent systemic circulation was: VAD insertion plus application of bilateral pulmonary bands, stent placement in the arterial duct, and atrial septectomy, if needed. PALLIATION+VAD for patients with ductal-dependent pulmonary circulation was: VAD insertion plus stent placement in the arterial duct or systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt with pulmonary arterioplasty, if needed. RESULTS: At PALLIATION+VAD, median age was 20 days (range, 4-143 days) and median weight was 3.47 kg (range, 2.43-4.86 kg). Ten patients (67%) survived and 5 patients (33%) died. All ten survivors are at home doing well after successful transplantation. Only 2 of 10 survivors (20%) required intubation >10 days after PALLIATION+VAD. Median length of VAD support for all 15 patients was 138 days (range, 56-226 days). CONCLUSIONS: High-risk neonates with functionally univentricular hearts who are suboptimal candidates for conventional palliation can be successfully stabilized with pulsatile VAD insertion along with initial palliation while awaiting cardiac transplantation; these patients may be extubated, enterally nourished, and optimized for transplantation while on VAD.

Combined Hybrid Procedure and VAD Insertion in 9 High-Risk Neonates and Infants With HLHS.

BACKGROUND: This report describes 9 high-risk neonates and infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) who were stabilized with a combined hybrid approach and ventricular assist device (VAD) insertion (HYBRID+VAD) in preparation for heart transplantation. METHODS: A total of 9 patients with HLHS (7 neonates, 2 infants) presented with anatomic or physiologic features associated with an increased risk for conventional univentricular palliation with the Norwood operation (large coronary sinusoids or fistulas, severe tricuspid regurgitation, cardiogenic shock, restrictive atrial septum). These patients underwent combined VAD insertion (Berlin EXCOR, Berlin Heart, Inc, Berlin, Germany) and Stage 1 hybrid palliation (application of bilateral pulmonary bands, stent placement in the patent arterial duct, and atrial septectomy if needed). During this same era, at the Congenital Heart Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 46 neonates underwent a Norwood operation, 4 neonates underwent a hybrid approach "Stage 1" without VAD, and 3 patients with HLHS were supported with prostaglandin while awaiting heart transplantation. RESULTS: At HYBRID+VAD insertion, the median age was 20 days (range, 13 to 143 days), and median weight was 3.25 kg (range, 2.43 to 4.2 kg). Six patients survive (67%), and 3 patients died (33%). Five survivors are at home doing well after successful heart transplantation, and 1 survivor is doing well in the intensive care unit on VAD support while awaiting transplantation. Only 1 of 6 survivors (16.7%) required intubation more than 10 days after HYBRID+VAD insertion. In 8 patients no longer undergoing VAD support, the median length of VAD support was 119.5 days (range, 56 to 196 days). CONCLUSIONS: High-risk patients with HLHS who are suboptimal candidates for Norwood palliation can be successfully stabilized with pulsatile VAD insertion along with hybrid palliation while awaiting cardiac transplantation. These patients may be extubated and optimized for transplantation while undergoing VAD support.