• Gregory Hansen, Alf Conradi, Laurance Lequier, Gonzalo Garcia Guerra, Luis G Quiñonez, David B Ross, Ivan M Rebeyka, and Holger Buchholz.
• Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. ghansen@ualberta.ca
• Pediatr Crit Care Me. 2013 Jan 1;14(1):50-4.

ObjectiveTo describe whether Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric pump changes in the ICU are associated with infection, hemodynamic and ventilatory instability, and neurologic injury.DesignRetrospective, descriptive chart review.SettingPICU in a quaternary care children's hospital.PatientsEight patients were supported on Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric pumps due to cardiomyopathy or cardiogenic shock. Two patients were supported with left ventricular assist devices, five had biventricular assist devices, and one required a univentricular assist device.InterventionsA team of cardiac surgeons, pediatric intensivists, and operating room nurses conducted sixteen pump changes in the pediatric intensive care unit. Patients were monitored for deleterious effects for 5 days following the change.Measurement And Main ResultsFor the first 48 hrs following the EXCOR pump change, no patients exhibited acute neurologic deficits or escalation of hemodynamic or ventilatory support. Over the first 5 days, no blood cultures were positive for microbes.ConclusionsBerlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric pump changes in the pediatric intensive care unit appear to be a safe procedure when conducted by a highly specialized team.

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