INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PEDIATRIC MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND PEDIATRIC CARDIOPULMONARY PERFUSION: OUTCOMES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The overall objective of this unique meeting is to bring together internationally known clinicians, bioengineers, and basic scientists involved in the research of pediatric mechanical cardiac support systems and pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass procedures. The primary focus is to explicitly describe the problems with current pediatric mechanical circulatory support systems, methods, and techniques during acute and chronic support. The organizers of these continuing events believe that, in bringing together respected international scholars from 27 different countries, there has been a significant global impact made on the treatment of pediatric cardiac patients during the past three years alone. Over 800 participants from many countries, including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have participated in the 2005, 2006, and 2007 events.

To date, this International Conference on Pediatric Mechanical Circulatory Support Systems and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Perfusion is the only conference solely dedicated to pediatric cardiac devices during acute and chronic mechanical circulatory support. There is no other national or international conference to precisely define the problems with pediatric cardiac patients, and to suggest solutions with new methodologies and devices for pediatric patients, specifically neonates and infants. The objectives of this editorial are to review the outcomes of these three events and share future directions.

Formal Conference Evaluations

Participants at the last three events were requested to evaluate all scientific and social programs comprising the 3 day conferences. The survey questions covered not only educational objectives of the event, but also conference administration, facilities, and personal expectations. In addition, Invited and Key Note Lecturers were evaluated in terms of teaching effectiveness, knowledge of the subject, quality of handouts, teaching strategies, and commercial bias. The ratings in all categories were remarkably high. A majority of the participants clearly stated that they learned something new which they would utilize in the coming year and share with others in their hospitals or institutions. Two-thirds of the total participants of this event attended at least two of the past three conferences.

The Conference Proceedings

Each participant of the First, Second, and Third Conferences received a copy of the Conference Proceedings which included all abstracts presented at the conferences. The Conference Proceedings were also placed on our conference web page to allow anyone to access the information via the internet http://www.hmc.psu.edu/ce/pediatrics/

Special Issues of the ASAIO Journal

All regular slide and poster abstract presenters at this event are required to submit full manuscripts before their presentations for per review and possible publication in the ASAIO Journal. Although it is not required, we also request that invited speakers submit full manuscripts as well. The Sept-Oct 2005, Sept-Oct 2006, and Nov-Dec 2007 issues of the ASAIO Journal were dedicated to the manuscripts submitted at the First, Second, and Third Conferences, respectively. All manuscripts were subjected to the usual peer-review process for publication acceptance in the ASAIO Journal. Articles published in these three special issues of cover most of the related areas of pediatric mechanical circulatory support systems, pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass procedures, and pediatric heart transplantation. All of the details, including key words of these articles, are included in Table 1.

Table 1.

Original article topics presented and published (after peer-review) at the First, Second, and Third Conferences

Editorials		1, 2, 44, 50, 89, 107
Pediatric MCS	Clinical	74, 97, 106, 119, 120
	Devices under development	16, 17, 19, 20, 49, 70, 93, 96, 104, 105, 126, 127, 130, 132, 141
	Heart Transplantation	5, 40, 97, 98, 99, 102, 129
	Anticoagulation/ Thrombosis	22, 82, 106, 117,
	FDA's perspectives	15, 90, 140
	Berlin Heart	40, 43, 51, 53, 82, 137
	MEDOS	6, 53
	Thoratech	4, 7, 74
	Axial-flow pump	31, 41
	Levitronix	91, 133
	Cannulation	56
	Biventricular Support	4, 74
	Review	58
	Pulsatile flow	6, 18, 40, 43, 51, 53, 82, 96, 105, 137
	Valves for assist devices	18, 96
	Platelet adhesion	23
	Patient management	51
	Post-cardiotomy	76
	Computer model/Simulation	30, 94
	Outcomes	119, 120
	Anatomic fitting	123
	Lung assist	124
Pediatric CPB	Clinical	12, 13, 14, 35, 36, 42, 59, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65, 71, 80, 83, 92, 95, 108, 110, 112, 115, 116
	Fetal CPB	33, 34, 122
	Outcomes	64, 65, 95, 108, 115, 116
	Viscoelasticity	12
	Review	13, 38, 112
	Pediatric Valves	14, 48, 66, 69,
	New devices under development	20, 32
	Self-lung bypass	25
	VAVD	33
	MUF	35, 92
	Cardioplegia	35
	Systemic inflammation	38, 92
	Pulsatile vs. nonpulsatile	59, 108, 134
	Cerebral & myocardial perfusion	60, 109
	Normothermic CPB	61
	Atrial natriuretic peptide	62
	Centrifugal pump	63
	Computational fluid dynamics	79
	Peritoneal dialysis	80
	Anticoagulation	100
	Miniaturization of the circuit	110, 111
	Blood gas	113
	Centrifugal Rotary pump	114, 128
	Preconditioning	131
ECLS	Clinical	8, 9, 10, 11, 37, 39, 40, 46, 97, 103, 118
	New Oxygenator	45, 47, 54
	Anticoagulation	55, 103, 106
	Ultrasound monitoring	57
	History	3
	Pulsatile flow	9, 29
	Post-cardiotomy	9, 29, 37
	MEDOS	9, 29, 52
	Neonate ECMO	9, 29, 75
	Anoxic ventilation	101
	Outcomes	9, 10, 11, 29, 37, 118
Special Reports	Blood viscoelasticity	12, 21, 68
	Microfluidic device	24, 81
	Plasma proteomics	67
	Gaseous microemboli	125
Pulsatile vs. nonpulsatile	EEP/SHE/Quantification	26, 27, 28, 29, 72, 73, 84, 136
	IABP	72, 73
	Review	121
	Aortic cannulae	134
	Coronary blood flow	135
Case Reports		77, 78, 85, 86, 87, 88, 137, 138, 139

MCS = Mechanical circulatory support; CPB = Cardiopulmonary bypass; ECLS = Extracorporeal Life support; FDA = Food and Drug Administration; VAVD = Vacuum assisted venous drainage; MUF = Modified ultrafiltration; EEP = Energy Equivalent Pressure; SHE = Surplus Hemodynamic Energy; IABP = Intra-aortic blood pump

Fourth Conference

The fourth conference (http://www.ohsu.edu/CPBConference) will take place at the Portland Hilton & Executive Tower, Portland, Oregon, on May 22-24, 2008. This year's meeting will include a “hands-on” perfusion workshop and a surgical video session on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. The meeting will commence on Wednesday evening, May 21, 2008 with registration. Formal presentations including Key Note Lectures, Invited Lectures and regular slide and moderated poster presentations will begin on Thursday morning (May 22, 2008) and continue through Saturday afternoon (May 24, 2008). Platform presentations will take place in two-hour blocks during the morning and afternoon sessions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Additional slide and poster presentations will be chosen from submitted abstracts. Moderated poster presentations will be held in the late afternoon on Thursday and Friday. A banquet is planned for Thursday night (May 22, 2008) for all participants. The Nov-Dec 2008 issue of the ASAIO Journal will be dedicated to the manuscripts submitted at the Fourth Conference.

FUTURE CONFERENCES

The Board of Trustees of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) has invited us to combine our unique international event with the annual event of the ASAIO. After careful review, the organizers have accepted this invitation. The ASAIO's Board of Trustees unanimously approved this arrangement at their November 10, 2007 meeting. Starting in 2009, the Fifth International Conference will be held at the same time and location as the annual event of the ASAIO. Our scientific program will be totally independent from the ASAIO; however, all administrative issues including conference registration will be handled by the Executive Office of the Society. Our scientific sessions will parallel the ASAIO and take place in the same exhibition hall, so participants of both events can see exhibits on pediatric and adult devices.

Following is the list of locations and dates for the next two conferences. Fifth International Conference – The Hilton Hotel, Dallas, TX, May 28-30, 2009, Sixth International Conference – The Hilton Hotel, Baltimore, MD, May 27-29, 2010.

As always, my personal special thanks go to Betty L. Littleton, BA, Managing Editor, and Joseph B. Zwischenberger, MD, Editor-in-Chief of the ASAIO Journal for dedicating their time and energy in making these special issues possible.