Left ventricular assist device explantation after successful weaning in pediatric patients

The Berlin Heart EXCOR left ventricular assist device (LVAD) was used for post-myocarditis dilated cardiomyopathy on the basis of a Parvovirus B19 viral infection in a 5-month-old otherwise-healthy female patient. After 4 days the temporary additional right ventricular assist device support was discontinued and isolated LVAD support continued for 7 months. After haemodynamic assessment and successful weaning according to the local protocol, the Berlin Heart EXCOR LVAD was explanted via resternotomy and a facilitated cannulation and perfusion strategy, using the LVAD outflow cannula for arterial inflow of the heart-lung machine and induced ventricular fibrillation.