title: First experiences with the HeartWare ventricular assist system in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to describe initial experience with a new continuous flow, ventricular assist system in the pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
authors: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Germany.
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Miera
authors: Evgenij V
authors: EV
authors: Potapov
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Redlin
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Stepanenko
authors: Felix
authors: F
authors: Berger
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Hetzer
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Hübler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design