Centrifugal-flow ventricular assist device support in children: A single-center experience

Background: Our institutional policy is to continue centrifugal-flow ventricular assist device support for 3 months or more without activation on the transplant wait-list for physical recovery and assessment of possible myocardial recovery. We evaluated our single-institutional outcomes with centrifugal-flow ventricular assist device support in children. Methods: Prospectively collected outcomes data in consecutive patients aged 18 years or less with centrifugal-flow ventricular assist device support were reviewed. Results: There were 40 implantations in 39 patients (28 with cardiomyopathy, 11 with congenital heart disease, including 3 with univentricular physiology). The median support was 8 months (range, 1-79), with 13 patients (33%) supported for 12 months or more and a cumulative duration of 41 patient-years. The median age and weight at implantation were 11 (4-18) years and 35 (14-98) kg, respectively. The median body surface area was 1.1 (0.7-2.2) m(2), with 16 patients (40%) having a body surface area less than 1.0 m(2). Thirty-four patients (85%) had Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support 1 or 2. Children with congenital heart disease were significantly smaller (P<. 01) and had more prior cardiac interventions (P<. 01) than those with cardiomyopathy. There were 2 early mortalities (5%) in children with cardiomyopathy. Of the 38 patients with successful implantations, 36 (95%) were discharged home and managed as outpatients. Overall adverse event rates were 5.1 (bleeding), 0.8 (device malfunction), 6.1 (infection), 3.9 (neurologic dysfunction), and 1.0 (renal dysfunction) (per 100 patient-month). In the 21 patients with cardiomyopathy supported for 3 months or more, 5 (24%) experienced normalization of left ventricular function; 4 underwent successful explantation, and 1 remains on support. Conclusions: This study demonstrates favorable outcomes of centrifugal-flow ventricular assist device support in children, including those with congenital heart disease, with an increased incidence of cardiac recovery.