Ventricular assist device implantation in the pediatric population: Does pump size selection and associated hemodynamics impact outcomes?

The use of pediatric ventricular assist devices (VADs) continues to evolve with the availability of smaller blood pumps. We examine the correlation of implanting appropriate sized blood pumps with a lower incidence of VAD related complications (VADRC). A 7-year retrospective review was undertaken for all pediatric VAD patients. Optimal VAD hemodynamics were defined as cardiac index of 2.7 L/m and rate of 80 beats per minute (bpm) with complete fill/empty of the blood pump. Patient/blood pump size match, VAD rate and fill/empty ratios were calculated (optimum = 1.0) and then correlated with incidence of VADRC. The study included 22 patients, mean age 9.77 years (6 mo-18 yrs) and mean body surface area (BSA) of 1.14 m (0.14 m-2.32 m), who underwent VAD implantation. VADRC included death while on support (n = 5), bleeding requiring reoperation (n = 8), hemolysis (n = 2), neurologic events (n = 2), thrombus formation (n = 3), and infection (n = 3). Six patients were bridged to transplant without any VADRC. This subset of patients had a mean blood pump size match ratio of 0.98, VAD rate ratio of 0.92 and fill/empty ratio of 1.00. Patients with VADRC (n = 16) were found to have a mean blood pump size match ratio of 0.72, VAD rate ratio of 0.72 and fill/empty ratio of 0.78. We report a series of pediatric patients with wide ranging BSA receiving VAD implantation. Selection of appropriate sized blood pumps can be correlated with decreased VADRC.