Meeting needs–pushing boundaries: Mechanical circulatory support in children; year in review

Abstract

Application of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in children has become mainstream. However, it continues to be associated with significant morbidity. The persistent progress in the field of MCS in children has led to increased use, expanded device utilization, and improved survival. In the current review, we focus on publications from the year 2020 that examined the role of MCS in children. We include publications related to total artificial heart (TAH) and ventricular assist devices (VAD), although we do not include those related to acute extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support.