The Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Program

Cincinnati Children’s Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) program is a nationally recognized leader in mechanical circulatory support (MCS).

Our VAD Program uses devices to stabilize patients and support them while they wait for a donor heart (bridge-to-transplant). We also support patients with VADs who are not transplant candidates and need a long-term solution (destination therapy).

Our devices can serve a range of children of all ages and sizes with heart failure.

Devices We Offer

Our Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) program offers a diverse range of devices, enabling us to support all children and young adults, regardless of size or cause of heart disease.

The Ventricular Assist Device Program offers the following short-term and long-term devices:

Short-Term Devices Show: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) – a machine that takes the place of the heart and lungs. This is a short-term therapy for heart and lung failure.
RotaFlow Centrifugal Pump – a pump that assists the heart but not the lungs and allows the heart to rest while it recovers or supports the patient until they are transitioned to another device. It can be used for multiple days.
CardioHelp – A system for patients who need short-term respiratory and/or circulatory support.
Centrimag / Pedimag – A pump that assists the heart but not the lungs and allows the heart to rest while it recovers or supports the patient until they are transitioned to another device.
Long-term support devices Show: Berlin Heart EXCOR® – a pump that sits outside of the body that assists the heart to get blood flow to all vital organs while the child waits for a transplant. Currently, the patient cannot be discharged on this device.
HeartMate II® – an internally housed (inside the body) continuous flow pump that can support an older child or adult until they receive a transplant. This device can also be used to support a patient for the duration of their lifetime (destination therapy). The drive line (the cable that exits the body to provide power and information to the device) exits the abdomen and attaches to a small computer and power source. The goal of this device is to support the patient’s circulation and to get them home.
SynCardia Total Artificial Heart (TAH) and the Freedom Driver – an internally housed pump that replaces the whole heart so that the older child or adult can be bridged to transplant. Patients can go home on this device by transitioning to the Freedom Driver.
HeartWare® Ventricular Assist Device System – an internally housed (inside the body) continuous flow pump that can support a child or adult until they receive a heart transplant. This device is unique because it is our smallest continuous flow device. The driveline (the cable that exits the body to provide power and information to the device) exits through the abdomen. The driveline then attaches to a small computer and power source. These patients can be discharged to home while they wait for heart transplant.
Transport Services Show: In some cases, patients at an outside hospital or facility on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) (see description under short term devices above) require transport to Cincinnati Children’s for specialized care. We are fully equipped to provide transport for children and young adults of all sizes and can customize a transportable circuit to the patient’s needs, size and distance to be traveled. The ECMO transport team includes two perfusionists, a physician, nurse and respiratory therapist.

Five Pound Fighter

James Baker is likely the smallest child ever to get a VAD, make it to transplant, and then get discharged to home - where a bright future awaits him.

A Day in the Life of Tessa

Follow Tessa, a seven-year-old with Cardiomyopathy, and her sister, Ava, as they talk about life with a Ventricular Assist Device.