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Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) in Juvenile Landrace Swine: A LVAD Implantation Model of Pediatric Heart Failure
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Implantation of Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) in Juvenile Landrace Swine: A LVAD Implantation Model of Pediatric Heart Failure

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Pediatric Quality of Life while Supported with a Ventricular Assist Device

Jacob R Miller1, Umar S Boston1, Deirdre J Epstein1

  • 1Section of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo, USA.

Congenital Heart Disease
|April 14, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric patients on ventricular assist devices (VADs) experience significantly lower quality of life (QoL) compared to healthy or post-transplant children. Improvements in QoL for VAD support are crucial as its use increases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Medical Devices
  • Quality of Life Research

Background:

  • Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are vital for pediatric heart failure patients awaiting transplant.
  • While VADs improve survival, their impact on pediatric quality of life (QoL) remains understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in pediatric patients receiving ventricular assist device (VAD) support.
  • To compare the QoL of VAD-supported pediatric patients with relevant control groups.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study administered the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 to pediatric VAD patients and their parents.
  • QoL scores were collected pre-implant (when feasible), post-operatively, and periodically until transplant or death.
  • VAD patient scores were compared to healthy controls, outpatients with severe heart disease, and post-heart transplant children.

Main Results:

  • Thirteen pediatric patients requiring VAD support >2 weeks completed the PedsQL.
  • Patients reported significantly lower total and physical QoL scores compared to all three control groups.
  • Parent proxy-reported scores were significantly lower across all categories compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric VAD patients exhibit a substantial deficit in overall QoL compared to those with severe heart disease or post-transplant.
  • Psychosocial QoL was lower than healthy controls but not significantly different from other groups.
  • Enhancing QoL for pediatric patients on VAD support is essential, given the increasing duration of device utilization.
Abstract

Keywords:
Heart FailurePediatricQuality of LifeVentricular Assist Device

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