Outcomes of Berlin Heart EXCOR® pediatric ventricular assist device support in patients with restrictive and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

: The outcomes of pediatric ventricular assist device support in patients with diastolic heart failure have not been well described. This study reviews the North American experience with Berlin Heart EXCOR® ventricular assist device implants in children with such physiology. The Berlin Heart clinical database was reviewed. Patients with primary diastolic dysfunction are included in this study. Twenty pediatric patients with restrictive cardiomyopathy (n = 13), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 3), or congenital heart disease with restrictive physiology (n = 4) who were supported with EXCOR® were identified. Of these, nine (45%) were successfully bridged to transplant, one (5%) weaned from support, and 10 (50%) died after support was withdrawn. Of patients under age 3 years (n = 13), 38.5% survived, whereas those aged 3 or older (n = 7) had 71.4% survival (P = .35). Biventricular assist device (BiVAD) patients experienced a 27.3% survival, vs 77.8% for patients with left ventricular assist device only (P = .07). Primary causes of death included stroke, infection, acidosis, multisystem organ failure, and bleeding. Pediatric patients with diastolic heart failure comprise a high-risk population for mechanical circulatory support. However, half of patients with this physiology have been successfully supported to explant with EXCOR® . The trends toward higher mortality for younger patients and those receiving BiVAD support warrant consideration.