Worldwide Experience of a Durable Centrifugal Flow Pump in Pediatric Patients

The primary objectives of this study were to describe the characteristics and survival outcomes for children supported with the HeartWare HVAD® system from the global community. This was a retrospective survey of patients P  = 0.001) and pump exchange (HR 7.9 (95% CI 1.8-34.2], P  = 0.006). The use of the HeartWare HVAD system in the pediatric population is associated with mortality with the majority of patients supported to heart transplant by 1 year post implant. These positive results are independent of geographic location. The need for a temporary right heart support and pump exchange is associated with a higher risk of poor outcomes, and further work is required to predict these patients to allow for optimization. Although survival results are promising, further studies are needed to delineate the associated morbidities with this technology in the pediatric population.