Human fitting of pediatric and infant continuous-flow total artificial heart: visual and virtual assessment

Chihiro Miyagi1, Munir Ahmad2, Jamshid H Karimov1,3

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH, United States.

Insights

This study assessed continuous-flow total artificial heart pumps (CFTAHs) for pediatric and infant congenital heart surgery patients. The infant CFTAH fit all patients, while the pediatric CFTAH fit 52.5%, identifying key fitting parameters.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Thoracic Surgery

Background:

  • Congenital heart disease necessitates advanced circulatory support in pediatric patients.
  • Small-sized continuous-flow total artificial heart pumps (CFTAHs) are being developed for pediatric and infant populations.
  • Assessing device fit is crucial for the efficacy of artificial heart implantation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the anatomical and virtual fit of pediatric (P-CFTAH) and infant (I-CFTAH) continuous-flow total artificial heart pumps.
  • To identify critical patient parameters influencing the fit of the P-CFTAH in congenital heart surgery patients.
  • To evaluate the feasibility of CFTAHs for small-patient populations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 3D-printed models of P-CFTAH and I-CFTAH for virtual fitting in 40 pediatric cardiac surgery patients.
  • Analyzed preoperative thoracic radiographs and computed tomography (CT) imaging data from three infants (4.2, 5.3, 10.2 kg).
  • Determined critical cutoff values for body weight, height, and body surface area for P-CFTAH fit.

Main Results:

  • The I-CFTAH demonstrated a suitable fit in all 33 evaluated patients.
  • The P-CFTAH fit in 21 out of 40 patients (52.5%), with 19 patients (47.5%) showing a non-fit.
  • Significant dimensional variations (p < 0.0001) impacting P-CFTAH fit included body weight (<5.71 kg), height (<59.0 cm), and body surface area (<0.31 m²).

Conclusions:

  • Established the range of proper fit for P-CFTAH and I-CFTAH in congenital heart disease patients.
  • The study suggests the feasibility of both pediatric and infant CFTAH devices for small-patient populations.
  • Identified specific anthropometric criteria crucial for successful P-CFTAH implantation.
Abstract

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