Optimizing Postcardiac Transplantation Outcomes in Children with Ventricular Assist Devices: How Long Should the Bridge Be?

Ventricular assist devices (VADs) decrease waitlist mortality and improve end-organ function. Therefore, we sought to determine the duration of VAD support that could allow for optimal posttransplant outcomes. Pediatric transplant recipients were identified from the United Network for Organ Sharing database. Inflection points were determined using hazard of mortality associated with support time fitted by cubic spline method. Of 685 patients, those supported for>2 months had a significant decrease in inotrope use and mechanical ventilation and an increase in functional status compared with those supported for
Source: ASAIO Journal - Category: Medical Devices Tags: Pediatric Circulatory Support Source Type: research