Newswise — The number of children with severe heart failure is increasing. Over the last decade, ventricular assist devices (VADs) have become the standard of care in the management of severe heart failure. In adults, implantable VADs (i.e. pumps placed within the chest) are used exclusively, due in part to favorable risk profiles and, more importantly, the opportunity for home discharge and outpatient management. By contrast, no implantable VADs designed specifically for small children (approximately 5 to 20 kg) are currently available. The result is that the vast majority of pediatric patients with severe heart failure are currently managed with paracorporeal VADs (i.e. pumps sitting outside the body), which in general are associated with higher risk profiles and require hospital management. In a presentation at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, researchers describe testing of a pediatric-specific implantable VAD in living animals.
Baltimore, MD, May 16, 2016 – For children with severe heart failure, the only available means of life support are ventricular assist devices (VADs) placed outside the body. These devices are associated with significant risks and the need for hospital management. In conjunction with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, investigators have now developed a miniaturized implantable VAD for small children (the Infant Jarvik 2015). The results of testing the device in live sheep are presented at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting.
“The very favorable results of this study will be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for determination of its suitability to initiate a clinical trial called the PumpKIN (Pump for Kids, Infants, and Neonates) Trial. We are hoping the trial will begin late this year. This study will be an important milestone in the new era of pediatric heart failure management with implantable VADs,” explained lead investigator Iki Adachi, MD, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston.
While there are VADs designed for adults, there are no implantable VADs specifically designed for small children. The current study aims to address this unmet need. The Infant Jarvik 2015 is an implantable axial-flow VAD. Compared to its predecessor the Infant Jarvik 2000, in vitro testing demonstrated that it offers significantly improved hemolysis profile, which is one of the most important challenges in development of small pumps. The Infant Jarvik 2015 offers up to 3.0 liters per minute flow rate, which is approximately double the flow its predecessor can provide. This important difference in flow capability would suggest that the new pump could be used in wider range of children.
In the current report, researchers implanted the pump in ten sheep through the apex of the left ventricle. The outflow graft was attached to the proximal descending aorta. Eight of the ten sheep completed the study and remained in good health, as indicated by appropriate weight gain, over a period of one to two months. The remaining two animals did not complete the study due to complications that were not directly related to the pump.
The most significant finding was very minimal hemolysis (premature destruction of red blood cells) despite high pump speed (the pump rotor spins up to 18,000 times per minutes). In six animals, there were small kidney infarcts, which is often seen in this type of animal studies in part due to inability to fully anticoagulate these animals. The entire VAD flow pathway was clean, without thrombi or fibrin deposits except in one.
“This preclinical study not only demonstrates the clinical feasibility of the new device, it also provides important insights into how this device may be managed when used clinically in pediatric patients,” emphasized Dr. Adachi.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS“The Miniaturized Pediatric Continuous Flow Device: Pre-clinical Assessment in the Chronic Sheep Model,” by Iki Adachi, Sarah Burki, David Horne, Gil G. Costas, Robert Jarvik, John Teal, J. Timothy Baldwin, Kurt Dasse, Jeff Conger, William E. Cohn, Charles D. Fraser, Jr. Presentation at the 96th AATS Annual Meeting, May 14-18, 2016, Baltimore, MD, during the Congenital Heart Disease Simultaneous Scientific Session on May 16, 2016, 4:35-4:55 PM ET. http://www.aats.org/annualmeeting
For more information contact Nicole Baritot, Managing Editor, AATS Scientific Publications, at +1 978-299-4520 or [email protected]. Journalists wishing to interview Dr. Adachi may contact him at [email protected]. Dr. Fraser may be reached for comment at [email protected].
Disclosure: Iki Adachi serves as a consultant for the New England Research Institute for this project and Texas Children’s Hospital receives a salary support for the role.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS Iki Adachi, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TXSarah Burki, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TXDavid Horne, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TXGil G. Costas, Texas Heart Institute, Houston TXRobert Jarvik, Jarvik Heart Inc, New York, NYJohn Teal, Jarvik Heart Inc, New York, NYJ. Timothy Baldwin, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MDKurt Dasse, Geno, LLC, Cocoa, FLJeff Conger, Texas Heart Institute, Houston TXWilliam E. Cohn, Texas Heart Institute, Houston TXCharles D. Fraser, Jr, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
ABOUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THORACIC SURGERY (AATS)The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) is an international organization of over 1,300 of the world’s foremost thoracic and cardiothoracic surgeons, representing 41 countries. AATS encourages and stimulates education and investigation into the areas of intrathoracic physiology, pathology and therapy. Founded in 1917 by a respected group of the last century’s earliest pioneers in the field of thoracic surgery, the AATS’ original mission was to “foster the evolution of an interest in surgery of the Thorax.”
One hundred years later, the AATS continues to be the premiere association among cardiothoracic surgeons. The purpose of the Association is the continual enhancement of the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest level of quality patient care. To this end, the AATS encourages, promotes, and stimulates the scientific investigation and study of cardiothoracic surgery. Visit http://www.aats.org.
Meeting Link: 96th American Association for Thoracic Surgery Annual Meeting
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