Adaptation of adult right ventricular scoring systems to pediatric patients undergoing continuous LVAD implantation: Feasible or not?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of adaptation of right ventricular (RV) risk scores used in adult patients to pediatric age group undergoing LVAD implantation. METHODS: Twenty-two pediatric patients who underwent LVAD implantation were retrospectively reviewed from January 2014 to September 2018. Preoperative patient characteristics, hemodynamic parameters, and echocardiographic data were collected. Adult RV risk scores were calculated for all patients. Effects of all the parameters on RV function were also investigated. Study endpoints were RVF and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Eleven (50%) of 22 patients were male. The mean age of the patients was 13.4 ± 3.8 years. The mean body surface area of the patients was 1.4 ± 0.4 m2. In five patients BiVAD implantation was performed. Of these five BiVAD patients two underwent successful heart transplant; two weaned from temporary RVAD and last patient died due to multi-organ failure. Four patients showed signs of early RVF; one patient was transplanted successfully while on medical support. Three patients developing RVF did not respond medical therapy necessitating ECMO and died in the early postoperative period. All risk scores and potential predictive factors were evaluated individually and in combination of several parameters. No significant predictor for RVF in pediatric patients that underwent LVAD implantation was found (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Neither an adult risk score nor a predictive factor was successful in predicting RVF, alone or in combination due to limited number of patients and events. Large further investigations are needed to identify the predictors or scoring system in pediatric population.