Biventricular assist devices enabled full cardiac recovery in 3 of 4 children with severe acute myocarditis and successfully bridged the fourth to heart transplantation.
Case Report (n=4)
Does prolonged support with biventricular assist devices improve survival and cardiac recovery in children with acute myocarditis and cardiogenic shock?
Prolonged circulatory support with BVAD is an effective method for bridging to cardiac recovery or transplantation in children with severe acute myocarditis.
The outcome of acute myocarditis with cardiogenic shock is poor. In some children in whom aggressive medical treatment fails, artificial replacement of heart function may offer lifesaving support until the myocardium has recovered. Four previously healthy children (three boys aged 4, 6, and 1 years; one girl aged 5) developed acute myocarditis with ventricular failure and multiorgan dysfunction caused by low cardiac output. Biventricular assist devices (BVAD) were implanted for prolonged support. In three children cardiac function improved and after up to 21 days mechanical support could be withdrawn. They had full recovery of heart function. In the fourth patient there was no myocardial recovery after a period of 20 days. He underwent orthotopic heart transplantation with an uneventful postoperative course. Prolonged circulatory support with BVAD is an effective method for bridging until cardiac recovery or transplantation in children.
Stiller et al. (Sun,) conducted a case report in Acute myocarditis with cardiogenic shock (n=4). Biventricular assist devices (BVAD) was evaluated on Full recovery of heart function. Biventricular assist devices enabled full cardiac recovery in 3 of 4 children with severe acute myocarditis and successfully bridged the fourth to heart transplantation.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: