Transcoronary cell infusion with the stop-flow technique in children with single-ventricle physiology.

Background: Almost all reports on cardiac regeneration therapy have referred to adults, and only a few have focused on transcoronary infusion of cardiac progenitor cells using the stop-flow technique in children.

Methods: Intracoronary autologous cardiosphere-derived cell (CDC) transfer was conducted at Okayama University as a phase 1 clinical trial for seven patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome between January 2011 and December 2012, and as a phase 2 clinical trial for 34 patients with single-ventricle physiology between July 2013 and March 2015.

Results: A total of 41 patients with single-ventricle physiology underwent transcoronary infusion of CDC with the stop-flow technique.