Tiny Heart Pump Device Offers Hope to Children Waiting for Transplants

Tiny heart pump device Children waiting for transplants

By E.Baloyo , Parent Herald May 08, 10:40 am

Photo: (Photo : Scott Olson / Getty Images )

A tiny heart pump device has now been invented, intended for children waiting for transplants.

Fresh findings indicate that a compact heart pump, akin to an AA battery in size, offers a lifeline to children awaiting heart transplants, enabling them to remain at home during this critical period rather than endure prolonged hospital stays.

This innovative implantable device presents a significant advancement in pediatric cardiac care, enhancing the quality of life for young patients in need of a new heart.

Revolutionary Device Redefines Transplant Wait Times

The device remains unapproved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, necessitating further study. Nevertheless, experts hail it as a significant medical breakthrough for numerous children grappling with heart failure.

Each year, a substantial number of infants and children awaiting heart transplants confront a daunting choice: endure the placement of a surgically-implanted mechanical heart pump weighing up to 200 pounds, complete with garden-hose-sized tubing affixed to their bodies, potentially for weeks or months until a suitable heart becomes available.

Recent findings in the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, released on Tuesday, showcase the feasibility of implanting a miniature heart pump device known as the Jarvik 2015 Ventricular Assist Device in infants and children.

This study, encompassing seven children aged 8 months to 7 years, involved the surgical attachment of the device onto the heart, with its cable exiting the body and powered by a battery pack worn like a belt.

Several participants utilized the device for many months preceding their transplants, with all seven surviving, albeit one experiencing a stroke 53 days after device implantation.

Five children proceeded to undergo heart transplants, one recovered without necessitating a transplant, and another required an alternative support device.

Significantly, these children engaged in regular play activities without discomfort from the device, hinting at its potential for home management if approved for broader use during the wait for heart transplant updates.

The Future of Tiny Heart Pump in Pediatric Cardiac Care

The Berlin Heart currently stands as the sole ventricular assist device available for children facing heart failure, with potential weights of up to 200 pounds contingent on the model. It connects to the child via two large blood tubes reminiscent of garden hoses.

Managing this device demands intricate care due to potential complications like stroke, infection, and blood clots, necessitating prolonged hospital stays as patients cannot return home with it.

Dr. Bradley Marino, Executive Co-Director of the Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Center and Division Chief of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Children's, hailed the potential of the new ventricular assist device as a transformative step for young patients.

Marino said, "This is a huge step forward for implantable ventricular assist devices for young children."

He emphasized the opportunity it presents for infants and young children to be discharged home, potentially easing the strain on cardiac intensive care units and enhancing the quality of life for both patients and their families during the wait for heart transplantation.

However, Marino also highlighted uncertainties regarding the device's performance in children with more intricate heart anatomy.

The feasibility trial's lack of discharged patients to home leaves questions about the device's safety for discharge unanswered.