ABSTRACT
Hall performed the first ventricular assist device (VAD) implant in 1963 and Michael DeBakey is credited for the first successful VAD implantation in 1966. Since then, the field of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) has continued to grow and progress for adult heart failure patients. At present, there are numerous US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved devices to support adults suffering from heart failure. Unfortunately, the same is not true for pediatric heart failure patients, particularly small children, infants, and neonates. In fact, no pediatric-specific VAD was available in North America prior to 2000 and not more than one was implanted in a given year until 2004 when the Berlin Heart EXCOR® gained widespread use throughout the US.
