Children with end-stage heart failure now have more options than ever before. When they have no other medical or surgical options to treat their heart failure,  they may be evaluated for a ventricular assist device, or VAD, that can help support their hearts until heart transplant.

As recently as 15 years ago, these devices were a rarity in pediatric hospitals — and they surely weren’t portable for use outside of the hospital setting! But thanks to new technologies that make living life at home and at school possible for children with VADs, an entire new field of care management is emerging.  The newer VADs are mechanical heart pumps implanted inside the body that are electrically powered, either by batteries or being plugged into the wall. …Read More