Australian Experience with VAD as a Bridge to Paediatric Cardiac Transplantation

作者：Gilmore Hollie^*; Millar Kenneth John; Weintraub Robert G; Hislop Jodi; Negri Justin; Brizard Christian P; d'Udekem Yves

来源：Heart Lung and Circulation, 2010, 19(1): 26-30.

DOI：10.1016/j.hlc.2009.07.002

• Ventricular assist device (VAD)
• Paediatrics
• Heart transplantation
• Heart failure
• Extracorporeal life support

The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne is the National Paediatric Heart Transplant Centre of Australia. A variety of ventricular assist devices (VADs) have been used effectively as a bridge to heart transplantation in adult patients, however, the experience in the paediatric population is limited. We present our initial experience using the Thoratec and Medos VAD systems as a bridge to heart transplantation in the designated centre for paediatric cardiac transplantation in Australia.
The medical records of all patients supported with a Thoratec or Medos VAD at the RCH from July 2005 to July 2007 were retrospectively reviewed.
Seven patients between 5 and 16 years of age were supported with the Thoratec or Medos VAD during the period of study. All of the patients were supported with a left sided ventricular assist device (LVAD). The length of time supported ranged from 6 to 230 days, with a median of 22 days. Co-morbidities included surgical re-exploration for bleeding, cannula site wound infections and thromboembolic events. Two patients died before a donor heart became available.
From our limited experience, the use of a VAD as a bridge to heart transplantation is a feasible option for children with end stage cardiac failure. (Heart,

• 出版日期2010-1