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. ( Ann Thorac Surg 2011; 91: 1256-60) (C) 2011 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons