Berlin Heart EXCOR Ventricular Assist Device: Multilayer Membrane Rupture in a Pediatric Patient

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 102; no. 2; pp. e129 - e130
• Main Authors: Di Molfetta, Arianna, PhD, Filippelli, Sergio, PhD, Ferrari, Gianfranco, PhD, Secinaro, Aurelio, PhD, Zielinski, Krystzof, PhD, Amodeo, Antonio, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-08-2016
• Subjects: Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - diagnostic imaging; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - surgery; Cardiothoracic Surgery; Child, Preschool; Device Removal; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Transplantation; Heart-Assist Devices - adverse effects; Humans; Male; Reoperation - methods; Risk Assessment; Surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Waiting Lists
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2016.01.022

A 2-year-old child was implanted with an Berlin Heart EXCOR Ventricular Assist Device (Berlin Heart, Berlin, Germany) as a bridge to heart transplantation for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. At postoperative day 296, a significant reduction of membrane movement was observed. The device was explanted and tested on a hydronumerical circulation simulator. Findings suggested that the integrity of the multilayered membrane had been compromised. This was confirmed by a computed tomography scan of the device. The computed tomography evidenced a detachment of the 3-layered membrane, with a thinner, convex layer on the side of the air chamber and an opposite convexity of the remaining membranes. These showed an additional air space within the layers.