Centrifugal pump left heart assist in pediatric cardiac operations. Indication, technique, and results.

Twelve children aged 6 days to 12 years had left or common atrial to aortic extracorporeal support with a centrifugal pump after cardiac operations. Left ventricular assist time ranged from 38 to 190 hours. Ten patients were successfully weaned from left ventricular assist device support; four hospital deaths occurred afterward. All six survivors were discharged from the hospital with improved left ventricular function. Although the follow-up time is short and the experience limited, we consider the centrifugal pump type of left ventricular assist device to be a potentially lifesaving treatment modality for selected pediatric patients having cardiac operations.