Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria for PAB.

Inclusion criteria

Age 0–6 years

Left-sided ventricular dilated cardiomyopathy with preserved right ventricular function (EF >45%)

Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) Z-score >+4.5

Ejection fraction (EF) <30% despite inotropic & anti-congestive therapy

Acceptable candidate for mechanical circulatory support and/or heart transplantation (HTx)

Clinical functional status III–IV (hospitalized)

Parental consent

Exclusion criteria

Age greater than 5 [12] years

No parental consent

Biventricular end-stage DCM

Acute/per-acute myocarditis

Concomitant structural (congenital) heart disease, with the exception of repaired ALCAPA

Moderate-severe tricuspid valve regurgitation

Pulmonary hypertension out of proportion with left-ventricular end-stage cardiomyopathy

Hereditary disease associated with bi-ventricular dysfunction

DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy; PAB, pulmonary artery banding.