Journal article

Outcomes of ventricular assist device implantation in children and young adults: the Melbourne experience

WY Shi, SF Marasco, P Saxena, Y d'Udekem, MS Yong, S Mitnovetski, CP Brizard, DC McGiffin, RG Weintraub, IE Konstantinov

ANZ Journal of Surgery | Published : 2016

Abstract

Background: We evaluated our experience with ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation in children and young adults. Methods: A total of 64 patients underwent VAD implantation in two centres. The mean age was 15 ± 7.2 years. Thirty-five (55%) patients were under 18 years of age. Devices implanted included the Thoratec Paracorporeal in 30 (47%) patients, Berlin Heart EXCOR in 11 (17%) and VentrAssist in 14 (22%). The diagnosis was cardiomyopathy in 53, congenital heart disease in 11, and graft failure in four patients. Results: There were 10 (16%) in-hospital deaths. Mortality was higher in patients <18 years of age (26% compared with 3.4% for those ≥18 years, P = 0.02). The use of extraco..

View full abstract