Computational Evaluation of Cardiac Function in Children Supported with Heartware VAD, HeartMate 2 and HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist Devices

Heart failure is one of the principal causes of morbidity and mortality in children. Treatment techniques may not work, and heart transplantation may be required as a result. The current state of donor-organ supply means that many patients cannot undergo transplantation. In these patients, ventricular assist devices (VADs) may be used to bridge the time until the transplantation. Continuous-flow VADs are increasingly being implanted to paediatric patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac function in children supported with Heartware HVAD, HeartMate2 and HeartMate3 devices using computational simulations. A lumped-parameter model simulating cardiac function in children around 12 years of age was used to simulate dilated cardiomyopathy and heart-pump support. The operating speeds in HVAD, HeartMate2 and HeartMate3 were selected as 2600 rpm, 8700 rpm and 5200 rpm constant speed, respectively, while the Lavare cycle and artificial-pulse modes were used to generate mean pump outputs at around 4.40 L/min and mean arterial pressures at around 82 mmHg in each device. Aortic pulse pressure was 11 mmHg, 14 mmHg and 6 mmHg under HVAD, HeartMate2 and HeartMate3 support, respectively. HVAD’s Lavare cycle and HeartMate3’s artificial pulse increased aortic pulse pressure to 15 mmHg and 20 mmHg. HeartMate3 with artificial-pulse mode may be more beneficial in reducing arterial-pulsatility-associated problems.