RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Given poor outcomes, strategies to improve ventricular assist devices (VADs) for single-ventricle patients with bidirectional Glenn (BDG) palliation are needed. METHODS: This retrospective review describes an institutional experience with VAD support for patients with BDG from April 2011 to January 2019. Surgical strategies, complications, and causes of death are described. Survival to heart transplantation for various strategies are compared. RESULTS: A total of 7 patients with BDG (weights, 5.6 to 28.8 kg; ages, 7 months to 11 years) underwent VAD implantation. Three patients underwent implantation of Berlin Heart EXCOR devices (Berlin Heart, Inc, Spring, TX), 2 had HeartWare HVADs (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) implanted, and 2 patients underwent implantation of paracorporeal continuous flow devices. Four patients underwent ventricular inflow cannulation, and 3 underwent atrial inflow cannulation. At the time of VAD implantation, the BDG was left intact in 3 patients, taken down in 3 patients, and created de novo in 1 patient. Over a total of 420 VAD support days, 2 patients survived to heart transplantation, 1 patient with HeartWare ventricular cannulation and intact BDG (after 174 days) and another with Berlin Heart atrial cannulation and BDG take-down (after 72 days). There were 3 deaths within 2 weeks of VAD implantation (2 from respiratory failure, 1 from infection) and 2 deaths after 30 days as a result of strokes. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical strategy and postoperative management of VAD with BDG are still evolving. Successful support can be achieved with (1) both pulsatile and continuous flow pumps, (2) atrial or ventricular cannulation, and (3) with or without BDG take-down. Surgical strategy should be determined by individual patient anatomy, physiology, and condition.
Assuntos
Insuficiência Cardíaca/cirurgia , Coração Auxiliar , Causas de Morte , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Oxigenação por Membrana Extracorpórea , Insuficiência Cardíaca/mortalidade , Coração Auxiliar/efeitos adversos , Humanos , Lactente , Cuidados Pós-Operatórios , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
Concerns remain regarding the use of direct thrombin inhibitors for cardiopulmonary bypass anticoagulation in pediatric patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia undergoing complex cardiac surgery. We describe the safe and effective use of epoprostenol sodium as an alternative therapy before heparin exposure for a pediatric patient with subacute heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and a ventricular assist device undergoing heart transplant.
Assuntos
Epoprostenol/administração & dosagem , Insuficiência Cardíaca/terapia , Heparina/efeitos adversos , Trombocitopenia/terapia , Adolescente , Ponte Cardiopulmonar , Terapia Combinada , Epoprostenol/uso terapêutico , Transplante de Coração , Coração Auxiliar , Humanos , Masculino , Trombocitopenia/induzido quimicamente , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Despite increasing use of mechanical circulatory support in children, experience with biventricular device implantation remains limited. We describe our experience using the HeartWare HVAD to provide biventricular support to three patients and compare these patients with five patients supported with HeartWare left ventricular assist device (LVAD). At the end of the study period, all three biventricular assist device (BiVAD) patients had been transplanted and were alive. LVAD patients were out of bed and ambulating a median of 10.5 days postimplantation. The BiVAD patients were out of bed a median of 31 days postimplantation. Pediatric patients with both left ventricular and biventricular heart failure can be successfully bridged to transplantation with the HeartWare HVAD. Rapid improvement in functional status following HVAD implantation for isolated left ventricular support is seen. Patients supported with BiVAD also demonstrate functional recovery, albeit more modestly. In the absence of infection, systemic inflammatory response raises concern for inadequate support.
