Initial experience with the TandemHeart circulatory support system in children.
Options for mechanical ventricular assistance in pediatric patients are limited. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is used in most cases for short-term support. The TandemHeart circulatory support system is an established device that is used in adult patients to provide short-term ventricular support. In this article, we report three children in whom a TandemHeart ventricular assist device was used for right ventricular support, two after heart transplantation and another for failed Fontan physiology. Herein, we report the novel application of this technology to pediatric patients, and we discuss the lessons learned from its utilization.
Ricci
Marco
M
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Holtz Children's Hospital/Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA. mricci@med.miami.edu
Gaughan
Colleen B
CB
Rossi
Michael
M
Andreopoulos
Fotios M
FM
Novello
Courtney
C
Salerno
Tomas A
TA
Rosenkranz
Eliot R
ER
Panos
Anthony L
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000503:physiopathology; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin