A pediatric ventricular assist device: its development and experimental evaluation of hemodynamic effects on postoperative heart failure of congenital heart diseases

Artif Organs. 1990 Feb;14(1):49-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1594.1990.tb01592.x.

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of a pediatric ventricular assist device (VAD), hemodynamic effects of the VAD were investigated experimentally in two types of postoperative profound heart failure models of congenital heart disease. In the model I Fontan or modified Fontan operation model, right ventricular pump function was excluded surgically and a shunt between the right atrium and the pulmonary artery was constructed in four dogs. With a VAD between the left atrium and the aorta, pressure gradient across the lung and the cardiac output increased. Right ventricular failure was induced surgically and high pulmonary vascular resistance was made by injection of glass beads in five dogs in model II. Cardiac output increased and the right atrial pressure decreased when a VAD between the right atrium and the pulmonary arterial trunk was activated. In conclusion, the VAD will become a promising modality to manage pediatric profound heart failure cases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Child
  • Dogs
  • Equipment Design
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / surgery*
  • Heart Failure / etiology
  • Heart Failure / therapy*
  • Heart-Assist Devices*
  • Hemodynamics / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy*