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Background: Patients with cardiogenic shock may require hemodynamic stabilization with short‐term mechanical circulatory support devices (ST‐MCS) such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and centrifugal pump (CP) as bridge to transplantion (BTT). This study aimed to describe ECMO and CP during BTT and after heart transplant. Methods: A cohort of patients on ECMO or CP as BTT between April 2006 and April 2018 in a single hospital. Results: Thirty‐seven consecutive patients with ECMO (n = 14) or CP (n = 23) were included. Acute kidney injury was more prevalent during CP (28.6% vs 69.6%, P =.02). There were no differences in stroke, thrombosis, sepsis, or vasoplegia. Bleeding (0% vs 56.5%, P =.0003) and reoperation (0% vs 47.8%, P =.002) were more frequent in CP group as well as mortality (0 vs 7 [30.4%], P =.03). The remaining 30 patients (81.1%) underwent heart transplantation, without differences in primary graft dysfunction, vasoplegia, reoperation for bleeding, or hospital stay. Mortality was 23.3% at 30 days, similar in both groups, with no further deaths at median follow‐up of 44.2 months. Conclusions: In patients with cardiogenic shock, ST‐MCS with ECMO or CP as BTT are a lifesaving approach allowing successful transplantation in the majority of cases, with good short‐ and long‐term survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mechanical circulatory support provides oxygen to the tissues in patients with cardiac and/or respiratory reversible disease refractory to conventional treatments., Objective: The aim of this study is to show our initial results of mechanical circulatory support in children with heart disease., Method: Retrospective cohort between March 2006 and March 2012. Demographic data (age, sex, weight, cardiac diagnosis), surgery (technique, pump, aortic cross clamping time) and mechanical circulatory support (type of assistance, indication, duration, complications and outcome) were collected., Results: Thirty-three patients were supported (1.3% of all surgeries), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation 32 cases and one ventricular assist device. The median age 7.4 months (one day-18 years) and weight 6kg (2.3-75). The most frequent cardiac malformations supported were the transpositions of the great arteries associated with other anomalies and the corrected transpositions (ventricular inversion or double discordance). The most common reason for admission was post-cardiotomy biventricular dysfunction. Twenty-eight patients were supported in the postoperative period, 4 in the preoperative period and in one with myocarditis. Median days of support were 3 days (1-10). The most common complications were infection (21%), bleeding (21%). Elective decannulation was achieved in 94% of cases. Hospital discharge survival: 52%., Conclusions: The mechanical circulatory support in our institution is a safe and standard procedure. We have been using it in a small number of cases with a similar survival to that reported internationally. This complex procedure is widely justified because it allows for the recovery of more than half of the patients who otherwise would have died., (Copyright © 2013 Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez. Published by Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to describe our experience (1373 days of support) with the Berlin Heart Excor (BH) ventricular-assist device (VAD) as bridging to cardiac transplantation in pediatric patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy. This study involved a retrospective observational cohort. Records of patients supported with the BH VAD were reviewed. Data regarding age, sex, weight, diagnosis, preoperative condition, single versus biventricular support, morbidity, and mortality were collected. Criteria for single versus biventricular support and intensive care unit management were registered. The procedure was approved by our Institutional Ethics Committee, and informed consent was obtained. Between March 2006 and March 2010, 12 patients with diagnosis of dilated (n = 10) and restrictive (n = 2) cardiomyopathy were supported. Median age was 56.6 months (range 20.1-165.9); mean weight was 18.3 kg (range 8.5-45); and nine patients were female. Every patient presented with severe heart failure refractory to pharmacological therapy. Biventricular support was necessary in four patients. Nine patients underwent heart transplantation. No child was weaned off the BH VAD because of myocardial recovery. Mean length of support was 73 days (range 3-331), and the total number of days of support was 1373. Three patients had fatal complications: 2 had thrombo-hemorrhagic stroke leading to brain death, and one had refractory vasoplegic shock. The BH VAD is a useful and reasonable safe device for cardiac transplantation bridging in children with end-stage heart failure. Team experience resulted in less morbidity and mortality, and time for implantation, surgical procedure, anticoagulation monitoring, and patient care improved.