Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program

Welcome to the Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program at the本森家庭心脏中心at Boston Children’s Hospital. TheVAD团队- 随着Heart Failure，，，，Cardiomyopathy，，，，and心脏移植团队 - 正在为心力衰竭形式最严重的儿童提供高级治疗。这些团队与您紧密合作，以了解孩子的状况，并制定定制的护理计划，以最能满足他们的需求并使他们再次健康。

新技术使许多心力衰竭患者能够在心室辅助设备或VAD的帮助下壮成长。VAD是植入的电驱动心脏泵，与心脏协同工作以改善血液流动。作为世界上最繁忙的外科手术中心之一，波士顿儿童拥有丰富的经验，可以实施不同形式的机械循环支持以改善儿童的健康。我们是为儿童使用心室辅助设备的国家领导者单个心室缺陷as well as other complex先天性心脏病。

自从我们的计划始于2005年以来，我们已经将VAD植入了84名儿童中，其中一些人需要多种形式的VAD。

克里斯蒂娜·范德普鲁姆（Christina Vanderpluym），医学博士，，，，of Boston Children's Hospital

为什么要使用VAD？

VAD由于多种原因治疗患有严重心力衰竭的儿童：

• 决策桥：A VAD is implanted to support an acutely failing heart. It immediately stabilizes the patient and allows time for the healthcare team to gather all the necessary information to provide the child and family with the best long-term treatment option.
• Bridge to Recovery:将VAD放置在帮助心脏并允许心肌恢复的目的中，最终的目标是对VAD的去除（或膨胀），一旦心脏自己可以自己泵送足够多。
• Bridge to Transplant:监督是植入病人在等待a heart transplant but are becoming more ill because of progressive heart failure. This type of VAD improves a child’s condition and quality of life while they wait for the most suitable donor heart.
• Destination Therapy or Life-Long Therapy:将VAD植入不具备心脏移植或可能选择生活在设备上而不是被列入心脏移植的儿童中的长期心脏支持。

We have found that overall quality of life for children with end-stage heart failure can improve significantly with a VAD implant. Patients who return home with a VAD can participate in many normal routines and activities.

How do I know if a VAD can help my child?

Children who are diagnosed with advanced heart failure can be referred to our VAD program by their primary care physician, primary cardiologist, or a subspecialist. Our team of expert clinicians will perform a comprehensive evaluation of your child to determine if a VAD is an appropriate option, and if so, whichVAD的类型is ideal.

The process of deciding whether your child is eligible, about the implanting of the device, and whether your child can eventually go home is often lengthy. It makes many demands on children, families, and caregivers, as does living at home with a VAD. The VAD team at Boston Children’s Hospital strives to build a cooperative working relationship between patients and caregivers so that it feels less like a process and more like a comfortable experience for children.

领导VAD研究与创新

本森家庭心脏中心的医师和护士在美国的儿科VAD使用方面发挥了领导作用。这些设备可以增强血液循环，并可以用作挽救生命的移植桥。Boston Children’s cardiologists were integral in designing and conducting the multi-institutional study of the Berlin Heart®, which gained FDA approval for use in children in 2011. Boston Children’s continues to expand the field of VAD support in children by introducing newer, durable devices such as the Heartmate 3 VAD, which allows children to be discharged home and resume normal activities.

波士顿儿童的病人是北美第一个带着VAD回到学校的孩子，她等待心脏移植。在2014年秋天，我们的一名患者成为了与VAD一起住在校园时上大学的第一个上大学的人。我们是最早使用Impella5.5®成功将儿科患者桥接到心脏移植的小儿中心之一。

心脏中心是动作学习网络（行动）这是临床医生，研究人员，患者和父母的合作，他们努力改善心脏疗法。我们的许多医生，护士从业人员和护士在进步心脏衰竭疗法领域时，在行动中担任领导职务。