Long-term outcomes after mechanical circulatory support in children

Mechanical circulatory support may be necessary for infants, children and adolescents with heart failure, whether the setting is acute or chronic. The age range of patients and their underlying conditions vary widely, as does the outcome. Although newer guidelines suggest structured patient follow-up, it is unclear whether this has been implemented. Currently, there is a lack of data on this small, heterogeneous patient group.
Neurological and developmental follow-up care for children after MCS is not yet systematic and structured in many countries. Current guidelines therefore recommend the establishment of follow-up programs. The establishment of these programs should be adapted to the circumstances of the respective countries, cultures, families and patients. Studies that deal with the implementation of a FU program, the selection of suitable test instruments, the way in which the tests are carried out, the professions involved, the role of parents and guardians as well as financing concepts help to close the gap between theoretical and practical implementation.

This Research Topic aims to provide transparency and guidance for the implementation of structured follow-up programs, as well as offer an overview of the neurological and developmental outcomes for children after mechanical circulatory support. This may include psychological, cognitive or motor ability, as well as the child's development, activities of daily living and quality of life. The influence of the underlying disease, the mechanical circulatory support, the sociodemographic background, as well as the resources of the hospital or country and the follow-up structure on the outcomes should be investigated.

To help close the gap between theoretical recommendations and practical implementation, we welcome articles covering, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Long-term neurological, developmental, cognitive, and psychological outcomes in infants, children, and adolescents after mechanical circulatory support for heart failure;
• Design, implementation, and evaluation of structured follow-up programs for pediatric MCS patients, adapted to local healthcare systems and cultural contexts;
• Selection, validation, and practical use of suitable neurological, developmental, and psychosocial assessment instruments in follow-up care after MCS;
• Approaches to multidisciplinary teamwork in follow-up care for pediatric MCS patients, including clarification of roles and responsibilities of different professional groups;
• The role and involvement of parents, guardians, and caregivers in follow-up care and outcome assessment after MCS;
• Strategies and concepts for the financial and organizational sustainability of pediatric MCS follow-up programs;
• Case studies, protocols, or frameworks for implementing structured follow-up after pediatric mechanical circulatory support across different healthcare systems and countries.

We welcome Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Clinical Trials, Study Protocols, Systematic Reviews, and Implementation Science articles that enhance our understanding of long-term outcomes and the practical establishment of follow-up programs for children after mechanical circulatory support.

Through this Research Topic, we aim to support the improvement of patient care and advocacy for comprehensive, individualized follow-up, ultimately advancing neurological, developmental, and quality of life outcomes for this unique population.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: ECLS, CPR, Pediatrics, Congenital heart disease, Sudden cardiac death

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.