Marieta was admitted to the La Paz hospital with a very serious prognosis. After chemotherapy resulting from a tumor process, it reaches Pediatric Intensive Care Unit from Madrid Hospital with cardiogenic shock.
Her the heart could not pump blood easily and oxygen reserves in the brain decreased. The situation was critical and, although the first option was to modify the oxygenation support, the doctors in La Paz decided to go further.
Thus, and taking a step never taken before in Spain, they implanted a console in the body of young Marieta (only 12 years old). Or, what is the same, a intracorporeal cardiac device. This would give him a better quality of life and, above all, it would allow him to recover at home.
The decision was a complete success and today the Community of Madrid is pleased that the region was the first in Spain to have implemented a intracorporeal cardiac device to a pediatric patient. Since then, until now, it is only practiced on adolescents and adults.
In a press release sent to Total Madrid, The Ministry of Health of Fátima Matute explains that this ventricular assistance (VA) procedure was successfully carried out on September 30 at the Public University Hospital of La Paz.
“It was used because of its size in adults or adolescents, and until now, long-term external consoles were used in the infant population until surgery.”
The doctors’ first option, the ministry now explains, was to modify the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for long-term ventricular assistance.
Barcelona Hospital Clinic.
“However, it was ultimately decided to implant the console inside the girl’s body to provide her with the best possible quality of life until she functionally recovers or is placed on the transplant waiting list “, they add.
This important step was possible thanks to the coordinated and multidisciplinary work of peace medicine and nursing professionals, such as those of Pediatric cardiac surgery department, Pediatric cardiology, pediatric anesthesiology and resuscitation, pediatric intensive care, radiology and medical engineering, as well as the collaboration and advice of different professionals from Spain and Europe.
It must be remembered that the La Paz University Hospital It is a national and international reference in heart transplantation. Its specific program for minors began in 1994, and that for adults with congenital heart disease since 2018. To date, the complex has carried out more than 140 interventions of this type, including 36 on children.
Marieta’s story
The beneficiary of this advance Madrid Public Health This is Marieta, a 12-year-old girl, admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit in La Paz, from another autonomous community. He is currently recovering favorably at home, as indicated by the ministry.
The minor’s clinical condition was critical due to cardiogenic shock, caused by ventricular dysfunction that prevented blood from pumping to the heart and oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. In addition, she had a tumor process and the chemotherapy she had to undergo caused cardiotoxicity, which results in cardiac or ventricular dysfunction.
The doctors’ first option was to modify the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for a long-term VA.
However, it was ultimately decided to implant the console inside the girl’s body in order to offer her the best possible quality of life until she functionally recovered or died. registration on the transplant waiting list.
