Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome in a Child Following Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Case Report and Concise Literature Review. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Costello, John P.; Diab, Yaser A.; Philippe-Auguste, Michael; Jones, Melissa B.; Shankar, Venkat; Friedman, Kenneth D.; Nath, Dilip S.
• Is Part Of: World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery. Volume 5:Number 4(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 592
• Page End: 598
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: circulatory assist devices -- heart failure -- hematology -- blood; Pediatric cardiology -- Periodicals; Congenital heart disease in children -- Periodicals; Heart -- Abnormalities -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Heart Defects, Congenital -- surgery -- Periodicals; Cardiac Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Child -- Periodicals; Adult -- Periodicals; 618.9212
• DOI: 10.1177/2150135114539521
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2150-1351

Abstract

The development of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) after placement of a pulsatile-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is rare and only recently recognized. We report the case of a young infant who was diagnosed with ventricular assist device (VAD)-related AVWS following implantation of a Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device (Berlin Heart Inc., The Woodlands, Texas, USA) for treatment of severe heart failure. Despite significant bleeding, the patient was successfully managed with von Willebrand factor-containing concentrate until VAD explantation led to definitive resolution of the AVWS. This case demonstrates that the possibility of this diagnosis should be considered in pediatric patients when extensive, nonsurgical bleeding is encountered after pulsatile-flow VAD implantation.