Preliminary experience with the MicroMed DeBakey pediatric ventricular assist device.

Mechanical circulatory support for both acute and chronic heart failure is a widely applied therapeutic option in the adult population with a variety of devices clinically available. Technology in this field has advanced sufficiently such that long-term support or "destination therapy" has become a generally accepted reality. Similar progress has not occurred in the field of device support for heart failure in children. While the number of potential patients is significantly lower in the pediatric population, the clinical relevance and poignancy of individual need are nonetheless real. Until recently, children with heart failure have been largely disadvantaged in comparison to their adult counterparts. The DeBakey VAD Child (MicroMed Technology, Inc, Houston, TX) represents a hopeful initial step in the direction of reducing the technological gap between adults and children. While the clinical experience with this device is limited at present, preliminary results are encouraging. This report will provide an overview of the DeBakey VAD Child, including device specifications, indications for clinical use, surgical and postoperative considerations, and updated clinical experience.

Comparison of hollow-fiber membrane oxygenators in terms of pressure drop of the membranes during normothermic and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in neonates.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of two hollow-fiber membrane oxygenators, the Capiox SX10 and the Lilliput 901, on pressure drop of the membranes during normothermic and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in neonates. METHODS: Twenty-six congenital heart surgery patients (n = 13 in each group) with a mean weight of 3 kg were included in this study. Pressure drops of the membranes, pre- and post-oxygenator extracorporeal circuit pressures (ECC) were recorded during normothermic CPB, hypothermic CPB (20 degrees C) and after rewarming. There were no differences between the groups in mean arterial pressure, pump flow rate, temperature, duration of CPB, crossclamp time or the severity of the surgical repairs. RESULTS: Pressure drop of the Capiox SX10 oxygenator was significantly lower during normothermic (32 +/- 10 versus 55 +/- 16 mmHg, p < 0.001), hypothermic (38 +/- 15 versus 72 +/- 18 mmHg, p < 0.001) and post-rewarming (42 +/- 13 versus 72 +/- 21 mmHg, p < 0.001) periods compared to the Lilliput oxygenator. In the Capiox group, the pre-oxygenator ECC pressure was also significantly lower during normothermic CPB (142 +/- 27 versus 184 +/- 43 mmHg, p < 0.01), hypothermic CPB (162 +/- 30 versus 199 +/- 38 mmHg, p < 0.01) and after rewarming periods (172 +/- 32 versus 212 +/- 42 mmHg, p < 0.01). Post-oxygenator pressures in the Capiox group were also lower than in the Lilliput group, but results were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the Capiox SX10 hollow-fiber membrane oxygenator produced significantly lower membrane pressure drops and pre- and post-oxygenator ECC during normothermic and hypothermic CPB. Thus, blood trauma with the Capiox during extracorporeal circulation may be significantly lower compared to the Lilliput. Further studies, including the level of complements, platelets, neutrophils and cytokines, with these oxygenators are warranted.

Outcomes of congenital heart surgery patients after extracorporeal life support at Texas Children's Hospital.

The objective of this study was to investigate the outcomes of children with heart failure of various etiologies requiring temporary use of currently available technology in the U.S.A. after extracorporeal life support (ECLS) [left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)] at Texas Children's Hospital. Between July of 1995 and October of 2002, 2847 patients underwent congenital heart surgical repairs with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass at Texas Children's Hospital. During this period, 17 patients required chronic mechanical circulatory assistance with Biomedicus centrifugal pump (n=8) or Thoratec LVAD (n=4), and ECMO (n=5). Six out of 17 patients required ECLS for postcardiotomy heart failure. Seven of the 17 patients had congenital heart disease, six had cardiomyopathy, three had late acute rejection following heart transplantation, and one had myocardial infarction. Twelve patients survived and five patients expired. Six of 12 survivors recovered sufficient cardiac function to allow device removal; and the remaining six patients underwent heart transplantation. Three out of five deaths were ECMO patients. The need for ECLS following repair of congenital heart disease is extremely rare in our institution. The requirement for the use of ECMO confers a significantly higher mortality presumably because of associated combined cardiopulmonary failure. Congenital heart disease appears to be associated with significantly higher mortality.