[I-AEPCJS-4] Pulmonary Banding as Bridge-to-Recovery / Transplantation in Children
Keywords:Pulmonary Banding, Heart Failure, Transplantation
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in (young) children still has a poor prognosis with high mortality rates. Cardiac Transplantation (HTx) offers good long-term prognosis for children with end-stage heart failure, but in the period of bridge-to-recovery or bridge-to-transplantation there is considerable morbidity and mortality, with approximately 80% of HTx recipients needing either a ventricular assist device or Berlin heart EXCOR. The number of young recipients waiting for transplants is increasing worldwide and implantable continuous flow devices are not suitable at present for small children. Quality of Life during support with Berlin heart EXCOR is an additional consideration. Therefore alternative strategies as bridge-to-transplant /recovery are needed. In selected patients the old surgical technique of pulmonary artery banding can be an interesting alternative bridge-to-recovery/transplant. Here we present our own, and the European Experience, with this technique and show, how this method of support has helped us in treating these patients.