Early extubation is associated with improved early outcome after extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection independently of duration of cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVES: Strict patient selection, short cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time and short mechanical ventilation are well-recognized aspects of optimizing the postoperative course after total cavopulmonary connection. In this study, we evaluated the influence of our early postoperative extubation strategy in our population of Fontan patients over the past 2 decades. METHODS: Early postoperative course was evaluated retrospectively in 211 consecutive patients, who were selected for total cavopulmonary connection in our institution between 1995 and 2015. We analysed postoperative haemodynamic parameters and early outcome after surgery (mortality and length of hospital stay) according to preoperative patient characteristics, duration of CPB and duration of mechanical ventilation. To investigate the influence of mechanical ventilation, the cohort was subdivided into a 'fast-track' extubation group (≤6 h ventilation, n = 59) and a prolonged ventilation group (>6 h ventilation, n = 152). RESULTS: In the entire cohort, duration of CPB did not correlate with duration of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.1), and it did not differ between both groups (P = 0.3). Patients in the fast-track group showed significantly better haemodynamics with higher mean arterial pressure and lower mean pulmonary artery pressure at 6, 24 and 48 h postoperatively when compared with the prolonged ventilation group (P = 0.02-0.001). In multivariable analysis, longer mechanical ventilation, but not duration of CPB, was independently associated with length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Early weaning from mechanical ventilation correlates with improved early Fontan haemodynamics, whereas early outcome is unrelated to duration of CPB. This indicates that early extubation may represent a principal strategy for improving early results after total cavopulmonary connection.

Asanguineous priming of miniaturized paediatric cardiopulmonary bypass circuits for congenital heart surgery: independent predictors associated with transfusion requirements and effects on postoperative morbidity.

OBJECTIVES: In paediatric cardiac surgery, body weight-adjusted miniaturized cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits within a comprehensive blood-sparing approach can reduce transfusion requirements. Haemodilution resulting from mixing the patient's blood with a CPB crystalloid solution may be reduced to the extent that asanguineous priming becomes possible. Therefore, we adopted asanguineous priming in our clinical routine. Our goal was to report the effects of asanguineous priming on transfusion requirements, clinical features associated with transfusion and effects on in-hospital morbidity. METHODS: Data of all paediatric patients with body weights up to 15 kg treated within a 2-year period between May 2013 and May 2015 were retrospectively analysed. The incidence of transfusions was analysed and periprocedural haemoglobin concentrations were evaluated. Predictors associated with transfusion requirements, duration of ventilation or length of stay in the intensive care unit were evaluated by multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Data from 579 patients with body weights up to 15 kg were analysed. The ability to avoid transfusion depended on body weight: in patients <3 kg, the rate (95% confidence interval) of transfusion during CPB was 0.53 (0.37-0.69), and in patients >8 kg, the rate was 0.14 (0.10-0.19). The respective rates of transfusions throughout the hospital stay were 1.00 (0.90-1.00) and 0.67 (0.60-0.73). Body weight, preoperative haemoglobin concentration, duration of CPB and palliative surgery were independently associated with transfusion during CPB. Transfusion, particularly transfusion during CPB, was independently associated with longer mechanical ventilation time (hazard ratio 3.52, confidence interval 2.66-4.65) and length of stay in the intensive care unit (hazard ratio 2.52, confidence interval 1.91-3.32). CONCLUSIONS: Asanguineous priming is feasible using miniaturized CPB circuits. It may help to avoid blood transfusions in patients on CPB and reduce transfusion requirements and transfusion-related morbidity.

Accuracy of predicted haemoglobin concentration on cardiopulmonary bypass in paediatric cardiac surgery: effect of different formulae for estimating patient blood volume.

INTRODUCTION: When applying a blood-conserving approach in paediatric cardiac surgery with the aim of reducing the transfusion of homologous blood products, the decision to use blood or blood-free priming of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit is often based on the predicted haemoglobin concentration (Hb) as derived from the pre-CPB Hb, the prime volume and the estimated blood volume. We assessed the accuracy of this approach and whether it may be improved by using more sophisticated methods of estimating the blood volume. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 522 paediatric cardiac surgery patients treated with CPB with blood-free priming in a 2-year period from May 2013 to May 2015 were collected. Inclusion criteria were body weight <15 kg and available Hb data immediately prior to and after the onset of CPB. The Hb on CPB was predicted according to Fick's principle from the pre-CPB Hb, the prime volume and the patient blood volume. Linear regression analyses and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the accuracy of the Hb prediction. Different methods to estimate the blood volume were assessed and compared. RESULTS: The initial Hb on CPB correlated well with the predicted Hb (R2=0.87, p<0.001). A Bland-Altman plot revealed little bias at 0.07 g/dL and an area of agreement from -1.35 to 1.48 g/dL. More sophisticated methods of estimating blood volume from lean body mass did not improve the Hb prediction, but rather increased bias. CONCLUSION: Hb prediction is reasonably accurate, with the best result obtained with the simplest method of estimating the blood volume at 80 mL/kg body weight. When deciding for or against blood-free priming, caution is necessary when the predicted Hb lies in a range of ± 2 g/dL around the transfusion trigger.

Routine Application of Bloodless Priming in Neonatal Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A 3-Year Experience.

A restrictive transfusion strategy led us to routinely try to conduct donor-blood free open-heart surgery even in neonates. The cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit was minimized by priming volumina at 73 ml for the smallest patients with body weight up to 2.5 kg and 85-95 ml for those with body weight of more than 2.5 kg, and by positioning the console as close as possible to operation table. Measures were applied to save blood during the procedure. Transfusion threshold of 8 g/dl hemoglobin was retained. Effort was made to avoid transfusion while on CPB or to postpone transfusion towards CPB end. From 2013 to 2015, 149 consecutive neonates underwent 150 open-heart procedures without blood in priming volume. Weight was lower than 2.5 kg in five instances. The most frequent operations were arterial switch operation (n = 54) and Norwood procedure (n = 17). Transfusion-free operation was achieved in 44 procedures. The great majority (42/44 = 95%) involved biventricular repair and included 50% (27/54) of arterial switch operations. 106 patients were transfused: 63 mostly towards CPB end, and 43 after coming off bypass. Transfusion-free procedures were associated with postoperative lower lactate concentration (p = 0.0013) and shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.0009). Seven patients were discharged from hospital without getting any transfusion of blood or blood products. In conclusion, routine application of bloodless priming in neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass is safe and beneficial. It results into a good number (29%= 44/150) of transfusion-free operations. Postponing transfusion towards CPB end favors an overall restrictive transfusion strategy for all patients.

Red blood cell storage duration is associated with various clinical outcomes in pediatric cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations on the use of fresh red blood cells (RBCs) in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery are based on limited information. Furthermore, the RBC storage time cut-off of fresh units remains unknown. METHODS: Data from 139 pediatric patients who underwent cardiac surgery and received RBCs from a single unit within 14 days of storage were analyzed. To identify the optimal cut-off storage time of RBCs for transfusion, multiple multivariate analyses aimed at different outcome parameters were performed. RESULTS: 26 patients received RBC units stored for ≤3 days, while 126 patients received RBCs that were stored for 4-14 days. The latter group required more RBC transfusions and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) than the former group (19 vs. 25 ml/kg, p = 0.003 and 73% vs. 35%, p = 0.0006, respectively). In addition, the odds for the administration of FFP increased with the transfusion of RBCs stored for more than 4 days. The optimal cut-off for post-operative morbidity was observed with a storage time of ≤6 days for length of ventilation (p = 0.02) and peak of C-reactive protein (CRP; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results indicate that the hazard of blood transfusion increased with increasing storage time of RBCs. The results of this study suggest that transfusion of fresh RBCs with a storage time of ≤2 or 4 days (concerning transfusion requirements) or ≤6 days (concerning postoperative morbidity) may be beneficial in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. However, further prospective randomized studies are required in order to draw any final conclusions.

Blood transfusion determines postoperative morbidity in pediatric cardiac surgery applying a comprehensive blood-sparing approach.

OBJECTIVE: Recently we suggested a comprehensive blood-sparing approach in pediatric cardiac surgery that resulted in no transfusion in 71 infants (25%), postoperative transfusion only in 68 (24%), and intraoperative transfusion in 149 (52%). We analyzed the effects of transfusion on postoperative morbidity and mortality in the same cohort of patients. METHODS: The effect of transfusion on the length of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves. To assess whether transfusion independently determined the length of mechanical ventilation and length of intensive care unit stay, a multivariate model was applied. Additionally, in the subgroup of transfused infants, the effect of the applied volume of packed red blood cells was assessed. RESULTS: The median length of mechanical ventilation was 11 hours (interquartile range, 9-18 hours), 33 hours (interquartile range, 18-80 hours), and 93 hours (interquartile range, 34-161 hours) in the no transfusion, postoperative transfusion only, and intraoperative transfusion groups, respectively (P < .00001). The corresponding median lengths of intensive care unit stay were 1 day (interquartile range, 1-2 days), 3.5 days (interquartile range, 2-5 days), and 8 days (interquartile range, 3-9 days; P < .00001). The multivariate hazard ratio for early extubation was 0.24 (95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.35) and 0.37 (95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.55) for the intraoperative transfusion and postoperative transfusion only groups, respectively (P < .00001). In addition, the cardiopulmonary time, body weight, need for reoperation, and hemoglobin during cardiopulmonary bypass affected the length of mechanical ventilation. Similar results were obtained for the length of intensive care unit stay. In the subgroup of transfused infants, the volume of packed red blood cells also independently affected both the length of mechanical ventilation and the length of intensive care unit stay. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence and volume of blood transfusion markedly affects postoperative morbidity in pediatric cardiac surgery. These results, although obtained by retrospective analysis, might stimulate attending physicians to establish stringent blood-sparing approaches in their institutions.

Effects of a comprehensive blood-sparing approach using body weight-adjusted miniaturized cardiopulmonary bypass circuits on transfusion requirements in pediatric cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Transfusion-free pediatric cardiac surgery remains a challenge, mainly owing to the mismatch between the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) priming volume and the infants' blood volume. Within a comprehensive blood-sparing approach, we developed body weight-adjusted miniaturized CPB circuits with priming volumes of 95, 110, and 200 mL for, respectively, infants weighing less than 3 kg, 3 to 5 kg and 5 to 16 kg. We analyzed the effects of this approach on transfusion requirements and risk factors predisposing for blood transfusion. METHODS: A total of 288 children with body weights between 1.7 and 15.9 kg were included and divided into 3 groups: No transfusion, postoperative transfusion only, and intraoperative and postoperative transfusion. Groups were compared by analysis of variance or analysis of variance on ranks. Risk factors predisposing for transfusion were identified by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the infants, 24.7% required no transfusion, 23.6% received postoperative transfusion only and 51.7% received intraoperative and postoperative transfusion. Groups differed by age, body weight, and size and by duration of surgery, CPB, and aortic crossclamp (P<.00001). Body weight (P<.00001), CPB duration (P<.00001), and persisting cyanosis (P=.03) were predictors of intraoperative and postoperative transfusion, whereas body weight (P=.00095), reoperations (P=.0051), and cyanotic heart defects (P=.035) were associated with postoperative transfusion only. CONCLUSIONS: Our blood-sparing approach allows for transfusion-free surgery in a substantial number of infants. The strongest predictors of transfusion requirement, body weight and complexity of surgery as reflected by CPB duration, are not amenable to further improvements. Better preservation of the coagulatory system might allow for reduction of postoperative transfusion requirements.

Transfusion-free complex cardiac surgery: with use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in a preterm 2.96-kg Jehovah's witness neonate.

In neonates, the major obstacle to transfusion-free complex cardiac surgery is the severe hemodilution that can result from the mismatch between the priming volume of the circuit and the patients' blood volume. Herein, we report the case of a 13-day-old, 2.96-kg preterm neonate who had a hypoplastic aortic arch and atrial and ventricular septal defects. At the insistence of her Jehovah's Witness parents, we performed corrective surgery without transfusing homologous blood products--using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in the process. A specially designed cardiopulmonary bypass circuit with a priming volume of only 95 mL was the key component of an interdisciplinary effort to avoid transfusion while maintaining the patient's safety. To our knowledge, this is the 1st report of the use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in blood-transfusion-free surgery to correct congenital heart defects in a small Jehovah's Witness neonate.

Capability of a new paediatric oesophageal Doppler monitor to detect changes in cardiac output during testing of external pacemakers after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: The Cardio QP™ oesophageal Doppler monitor measures the velocity time integral of the blood flow in the descending aorta. Based on system integrated normograms of the aortic cross-sectional area of a paediatric population, the cardiac output is calculated and displayed. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the capability of the Cardio QP™ to detect changes in cardiac output during desynchronizing ventricular pacing (VVI) in children after cardiac surgery. PATIENTS: Eleven children (6 female, 5 male) with epicardial pacemaker electrodes admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) after corrective surgery for congenital heart defects. Mean age: 6.3 (2.1-15.0) months, mean body weight: 5.3 (3.5-7.8) kg. INTERVENTIONS: After baseline measurements of cardiac output (base I), we performed 3 steps, each lasting 5 min: (1) ventricular pacing (VVI), (2) baseline (base II) recording, (3) atrial pacing (AOO). We measured the effects on haemodynamic parameters and blood gases as well as on the measured cardiac output. RESULTS: Ventricular pacing, with atrio-ventricular dyssynchrony, led to a significant drop in blood pressure and central venous saturation. Cardiac output parameters showed a decrease in stroke volume (SV) from 4.9±2.2 to 4.2±2.1 ml (P = 0.005) and cardiac index (CI) (2.6±1.1-2.1±0.8 ml/min/m(2)) (P = 0.009) during ventricular pacing. Cardiac index and haemodynamic parameters during atrial stimulation did not show significant changes from baseline. CONCLUSION: The Cardio QP™ seems to be capable of detecting slight changes in cardiac output.

Minimizing intraoperative hemodilution by use of a very low priming volume cardiopulmonary bypass in neonates with transposition of the great arteries.

OBJECTIVE: Owing to the mismatch between cardiopulomary bypass priming volume and infants' blood volume, pediatric cardiac surgery is often associated with transfusion of homologous blood, which may increase the risk of perioperative complications. Here we report the impact of a very low volume (95-110 mL) cardiopulmonary bypass circuit during arterial switch operations in neonates with transposition of the great arteries on blood requirements, tissue oxygenation, and patient outcome. METHODS: Twenty-three consecutively treated neonates aged 2 to 17 days were treated with the blood-sparing approach. Asanguineous priming was used in all cases and packed red blood cells were added when hemoglobin concentration decreased below 7 g/dL. Cerebral and lower body tissue oxygenation was monitored by near-infrared spectroscopy. Intraoperative and postoperative transfusion, duration of ventilation and intensive care unit stay, wound infection, and 30-day mortality were assessed for patient outcome. RESULTS: Intraoperative blood transfusion was necessary in 6 of 23 neonates. An additional 11 neonates received postoperative blood transfusions on the intensive care unit, leaving 6 infants who received no blood at all. Preoperative hemoglobin concentration was the only predictor for intraoperative transfusion requirement (11.6 ± 0.9 and 13.3 ± 0.4 g/dL in infants with and without intraoperative transfusion, respectively). Despite marked differences in hemoglobin concentrations between infants with and without transfusion, regional tissue oxygenation increased in both groups during cardiopulmonary bypass and returned to baseline at the end of surgery. In-hospital patient outcome was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transfusion-free complex cardiac surgery can be achieved even in neonates without jeopardizing tissue oxygenation or patient safety.

Rescue extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in children with refractory cardiac arrest.

We describe our experience with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in children with refractory cardiac arrest, and determine predictors for mortality. ECMO support was instituted on 42 children, median age 0.7 years (1 day-17.8 years), median weight 7.05 (range 2.7-80) kg who suffered refractory cardiac arrest (1992-2008). Patients were postcardiotomy (n=27), or had uncorrected congenital heart diseases (n=3), cardiomyopathy (n=3), myocarditis (n=2), respiratory failure (n=3), or had trauma (n=4). Cannulation site was the chest in all except for three neonates who were cannulated through the neck vessels and two children who had femoral cannulation. ECMO was successfully discontinued in 17 patients. Primary cause of mortality was neurological injury. Pre-ECMO CPR duration for survivors against those who died was a mean of 35±1.3 min vs. a mean of 46±4.2 min. Age, weight, sex, anatomic diagnosis, etiology (surgical vs. medical) were not significant predictors of poor outcome. Prolonged CPR and high-dose inotropes are significant predictors of mortality. Rescue ECMO support in children with refractory cardiac arrest can achieve acceptable survival and neurological outcomes.

First experiences with the HeartWare ventricular assist system in children.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe initial experience with a new continuous flow, ventricular assist system in the pediatric population. DESCRIPTION: Seven children (aged 6 to 16 years) received implantation of a novel third-generation, continuous flow, ventricular assist device (HeartWare, HeartWare Inc, Miami Lakes, FL) as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. EVALUATION: All children were in terminal heart failure despite inotropic support, and signs of renal or hepatic impairment developed. Six children had dilatative cardiomyopathy and 1 had congenital heart disease (hypoplastic left heart, total cavopulmonary connections with extracardiac conduit). Six patients have been successfully bridged to transplantation. Median support time was 75 days (range, 1 to 136 days). One child is still under continuous mechanical support. None of the patients suffered a thromboembolic event or an infection. CONCLUSIONS: The HeartWare assist system can be successfully used as a bridge to transplantation in children and adolescents with end-stage heart failure.

How near-infrared spectroscopy differentiates between lower body ischemia due to arterial occlusion versus venous outflow obstruction.

Small infants undergoing cardiac surgery are at high risk for regional malperfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass. We report a 13-day-old neonate who underwent reconstruction of the aortic arch and closure of atrial and ventricular septum defects. Near-infrared spectroscopy probes were placed on the forehead and the calf to monitor tissue oxygenation and hemoglobin concentrations. During rewarming, after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, the patient's calf hemoglobin concentration immediately increased but oxygenation remained low. Repositioning of the venous cannula resolved this suspected venous congestion. Simultaneous monitoring of tissue oxygenation and hemoglobin concentration allows differentiation of arterial obstruction from venous congestion.

Vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptor in infants with congenital cardiac disease.

Patients with cyanotic congenital cardiac disease often develop major aortopulmonary collaterals. Vascular endothelial growth factor is a key promoter of angiogenesis. Its soluble receptor-1 acts as a potent antagonist. We studied 30 infants with cyanotic congenital cardiac disease and 27 infants with acyanotic congenital cardiac disease. Central venous plasma vascular endothelial growth factor and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 levels were measured before, and 24 and 96 hours after surgery. There was no difference between plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels in infants with cyanotic and those with acyanotic congenital cardiac disease. In cyanotic infants, the soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 levels tended to be higher than in the acyanotic infants. In conclusion, there is no significant difference in the plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and its soluble receptor-1 between infants with cyanotic and those with acyanotic congenital cardiac disease.

Influence of external cardiac pacing on cerebral oxygenation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy in children after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: The brain of children in the early period after repair of congenital heart defects with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may be more vulnerable to hemodynamic changes because of impaired cerebral autoregulation. During postoperative testing of the external temporary safety pacer, we performed desynchronizing ventricular pacing (VVI) while monitoring cerebral oxygenation using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). METHODS: We prospectively investigated 11 children (6 girls, 5 boys). Mean age was 6.1 months (+/-3.8 months) and mean weight: 5.3 kg (+/-1.5 kg). We performed measurements at four study steps: baseline I, VVI pacing, baseline II and atrial pacing (AOO) to exclude effects of higher heart rate. We continuously measured the effects on hemodynamic and respiratory parameters as well as on cerebral tissue oxygenation index (TOI). Hemoglobin difference (HbD) was calculated as a parameter for cerebral blood flow (CBF). RESULTS: Ventricular pacing leads to a significant decrease in arterial blood pressure and central venous saturation accompanied by an immediate and significant decrease in TOI (63.3% +/- 7.6% to 61.5% +/- 8.4% [P < 0.05]) and HbD (0.51 +/- 1.8 micromol.l(-1) to -2.9 +/- 4.7 micromol.l(-1) [P < 0.05]). CONCLUSION: Cardiac desynchronization after CPB seems to reduce CBF and cerebral oxygenation in children.

Transfusion-free arterial switch operation in a 1.7-kg premature neonate using a new miniature cardiopulmonary bypass system.

In cardiac surgery, the potentially detrimental effects of transfusions on patient outcome are increasingly appreciated. Therefore, at our institution there are continuing efforts to modify our surgical, perfusion, and blood management strategies with the aim of transfusion-free cardiac surgery even in neonates and small children. Stringent improvement of these strategies, particularly the downsizing of the cardiopulmonary bypass system, have now enabled a transfusion-free arterial switch operation in a 1700-gram prematurely born neonate.

Intravenous clonidine infusion in infants after cardiovascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the hemodynamic profile and heart rhythm in infants who were given intravenous clonidine infusion after prolonged analgesia/sedation following cardiac surgery. METHODS: This is a single center retrospective review. A total of 542 cardiovascular surgical procedures in infants aged 0-24 months with congenital heart disease were performed between 01/2003 and 12/2005 at the Deutsches Herzzentrum in Berlin. The majority received no long-term analgesia/sedation, but 50 (9%) of these infants received clonidine (dosed at 0.18-3.6 microg.kg(-1).h(-1)) for sedation and to reduce withdrawal symptoms such as CNS hyperactivation, hypertension, tachycardia, and fever. The hospital records of these infants were studied. RESULTS: Fifty infants (median age 5.0 months, median body weight 5.3 kg, 32 males/18 females) received prolonged analgesia/sedation to ensure hemodynamic stability. Clonidine infusion started on day 5 (median) after surgery. During clonidine treatment we found an age-related normalized profile of hemodynamic parameters with a reduction of heart rate and mean arterial pressure from the upper norm to the mean within 24 h (P < 0.001). In no case did clonidine cause low blood pressure resulting in additional therapy to reach the target blood pressure. There were no adverse effects on cardiac rhythm, especially no onset of atrioventricular block. Midazolam, fentanyl, and other opioids could be ended on day 4 of clonidine treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although off-label, it is feasible to use clonidine infusions in infants in the PICU setting after cardiac surgery without hemodynamic problems arising.

Management of pediatric patients after implantation of the Berlin Heart EXCOR ventricular assist device.

Within the last 16 years, the Berlin Heart EXCOR systems have been used for circulatory support in 73 infants and children up to 17 years of age (mean, 7 years) with severe circulatory failure resistant to pharmacological therapy at our institution. These were patients with cardiomyopathy, fulminant myocarditis, end-stage congenital cardiac defects, and acute heart failure after congenital heart surgery. Mean EXCOR support time was 36 days (range, 1 to 420 days). Forty-four patients (62%) survived up to transplantation or after weaning and 37 (51%) of them, including 9 infants, were discharged home. These results in patients with very advanced disease have improved significantly during the past few years as the result of technical developments and growing experience in the treatment of patients on the device and in postoperative care. The following article gives answers to five questions frequently asked about intensive care unit treatment while on the device, anticoagulation and additional medical support during left ventricular or biventricular support, the daily treatment of the children, and options for the weaning procedure.

Improvement in survival after mechanical circulatory support with pneumatic pulsatile ventricular assist devices in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric size pneumatically driven extracorporeal ventricular assist devices (VAD) for infants and small children were introduced into clinical routine in 1992. In the initial period, the results in infants were poor. Since then, several improvements have been introduced with regard to the cannulas, connectors, heparin coating of the blood pump inner surface, anticoagulant treatment and coagulation monitoring, and earlier decision-making in favor of pump implantation before irreversible shock has set in. METHODS: Since 1990 and as of January 1, 2005, 62 Berlin Heart Excor systems have been implanted in patients below 18 years of age at our institution. The patients were divided into two groups according to the period of treatment: period 1, devices implanted between 1990 and 1998 (n = 34), and period 2, devices implanted between 1999 and 2004 (n = 28). We compared our experience during the earlier and later periods. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the preoperative patient data between the two periods except for time of support (17.9 +/- 27.7 days versus 53.2 +/- 83.9 days, p = 0.001). In period 1, more patients needed a biventricular VAD whereas in period 2, more patients were effectively treated with a left VAD (p = 0.05). In the later period, the chest could be primarily closed in a significantly higher percentage of infants (0% versus 89%, p = 0.012), and more infants could be extubated on the VAD (0% versus 55%, p = 0.16). Discharge from the hospital after either weaning from the system or heart transplantation was achieved for 35% in period 1 and for 68% in period 2 (p = 0.029). Whereas in period 1 there were no survivors in the group of children younger than 1 year old, during period 2, survival in this age group was similar to that of the two groups of older children (p = 0.024). There was a significant improvement in the discharge rate in period 2 in patients with cardiomyopathy (43% versus 76%, p = 0.045) and postcardiotomy heart failure (0% versus 57%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Earlier implantation of VADs, heparin coating of the blood pumps, and substantial modifications in cannula design, anticoagulation, and the coagulation monitoring regimen have led to a significant increase in the survival and discharge rate, especially among children under 1 year of age. The pediatric size Berlin Heart Excor VAD is a valuable option as a bridge to heart transplantation or recovery for children suffering from cardiogenic shock.