ABSTRACT
Mechanical circulatory support in infants and children is still evolving. The need for cardiac assist in pediatric patients may be growing because increasingly complex forms of congenital heart disease are amenable to surgery today. In addition, the success of pediatric cardiac transplantation and the existing donor scarcity stress the need for support systems covering the wide demands of pediatric patients. The MEDOS ventricular assist device (VAD) permits support of small babies, children, and adults by offering a variety of different-sized pumps that can be matched to the needs of every patient.
