Bridge to transplantation with a Toyobo-NCVC left ventricular assist device in a 3-year-old girl

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 Jul;56(7):357-60. doi: 10.1007/s11748-008-0252-9. Epub 2008 Jul 8.

Abstract

In Japan, no pulsatile ventricular assist devices are available specifically for use in children. Pumps designed for adults are thus often used in children. We report herein a case of end-stage heart failure in a 3-year old girl (height 100.4 cm; body weight 16.2 kg; body surface area 0.66 m2) who underwent implantation with an adult-sized Toyobo-NCVC left ventricular assist device (Toyobo-National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan) in our unit. We started with the driving mode to "full-fill, full-empty" mode. The problem was difficult-to-treat hypertension due to excessive stroke volume induced by the left ventricular assist device. Aggressive administration of antihypertensive therapy was needed. Successful heart transplantation was performed in Germany 5 months after beginning support with the Toyobo-NCVC left ventricular assist device.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / complications*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / pathology
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / therapy
  • Child, Preschool
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Heart Failure / pathology
  • Heart Failure / surgery
  • Heart Failure / therapy*
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Heart-Assist Devices / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / etiology*
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Palliative Care*
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Stroke Volume
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents