We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Miniaturized Implantable VAD Alleviates Pediatric Heart Failure

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 24 May 2016
Print article
Image: The Infant Jarvik 2015 used in the chronic sheep model (Photo courtesy of Texas Children’s Hospital).
Image: The Infant Jarvik 2015 used in the chronic sheep model (Photo courtesy of Texas Children’s Hospital).
A minute axial-flow ventricular assist device (VAD) offers hope in the management of severe heart failure (HF) in small children.

The Infant Jarvik 2015 is an implantable VAD that offers up to three liters per minute flow rate. To test the VAD, researchers at Texas Children's Hospital (Houston, USA), implanted it in ten sheep, with the outflow graft attached to the proximal descending aorta. Results showed that eight of the ten sheep completed the study and remained in good health, as indicated by appropriate weight gain over a period of one to two months. The remaining two animals did not complete the study due to complications that were not directly related to the pump.

The most significant finding was very minimal red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis, despite the high pump speed of up to 18,000 revolutions per minute (RPM). The entire VAD pathway was clean, without thrombi or fibrin deposits, except in one sheep. In six animals, there were small kidney infarcts. The study was presented at the 96th annual meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), held during May 2016 in Baltimore (MD, USA).

"This preclinical study not only demonstrates the clinical feasibility of the new device, it also provides important insights into how this device may be managed when used clinically in pediatric patients," said lead investigator Iki Adachi, MD. " This study will be an important milestone in the new era of pediatric heart failure management with implantable VADs."

VADs have become the standard of care in the management of severe HF. But while in adults, implantable VADs, usually axial, are used exclusively no implantable VADs until now have been designed specifically for small children. The result is that the vast majority of pediatric patients with severe HF are managed with paracorporeal (external) VADs, which in general are associated with higher risk profiles and require hospital management.

Related Links:
Texas Children's Hospital

Gold Member
Real-Time Diagnostics Onscreen Viewer
GEMweb Live
Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
EMG/NCV Testing Unit
Cadwell EMG/NCV/EP Sierra Summit Device

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: Researchers have developed a novel risk score for cardiovascular complications after bone marrow transplant (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Tool Predicts Cardiovascular Risks after Bone Marrow Transplantation

Every year, thousands of people undergo bone marrow transplants to potentially cure serious diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, and immune deficiency disorders. While these transplants can be lifesaving,... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The new eye-safe laser technology can diagnose traumatic brain injury (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Diagnostic Hand-Held Device Detects Known Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

The growing need for prompt and efficient diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major cause of mortality globally, has spurred the development of innovative diagnostic technologies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.