title: Safety of Berlin Heart EXCOR pump changes in the PICU.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe whether Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric pump changes in the ICU are associated with infection, hemodynamic and ventilatory instability, and neurologic injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, descriptive chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  PICU in a quaternary care children's hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients were supported on Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric pumps due to cardiomyopathy or cardiogenic shock. Two patients were supported with left ventricular assist devices, five had biventricular assist devices, and one required a univentricular assist device.
  
  
  METHODS
  A team of cardiac surgeons, pediatric intensivists, and operating room nurses conducted sixteen pump changes in the pediatric intensive care unit. Patients were monitored for deleterious effects for 5 days following the change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the first 48 hrs following the EXCOR pump change, no patients exhibited acute neurologic deficits or escalation of hemodynamic or ventilatory support. Over the first 5 days, no blood cultures were positive for microbes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric pump changes in the pediatric intensive care unit appear to be a safe procedure when conducted by a highly specialized team.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. ghansen@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Alf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conradi
authors.forename: Laurance
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lequier
authors.forename: Gonzalo Garcia
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Luis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Quiñonez
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Ivan M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Rebeyka
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Buchholz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D061646:Operative Time; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult