Describes a successful explantation strategy for a pediatric LVAD after myocardial recovery from viral myocarditis.
LVAD explantation may be feasible in pediatric myocardial recovery; extends existing evidence but leaves open optimal strategies.
The Berlin Heart EXCOR left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was used for post-myocarditis dilated cardiomyopathy on the basis of a Parvovirus B19 viral infection in a 5-month-old otherwise-healthy female patient. After 4 days the temporary additional right ventricular assist device support was discontinued and isolated LVAD support continued for 7 months. After haemodynamic assessment and successful weaning according to the local protocol, the Berlin Heart EXCOR LVAD was explanted via resternotomy and a facilitated cannulation and perfusion strategy, using the LVAD outflow cannula for arterial inflow of the heart-lung machine and induced ventricular fibrillation.
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Michel et al. (2026) studied this question.
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