The pediatric experience of living with a ventricular assist device

With the increasing use of long-term mechanical circulatory support in the management of pediatric heart failure, there is a growing patient population with unique qualities and needs. The objective of this review is to better understand the experience of having a ventricular assist device from the perspective of the child. The literature findings were categorized into the following themes: the persistent threat of mortality, identification with the device, the perception of life pre-device, and caregiver strain. While there is a large area that remains to be studied in future research, these findings can be utilized in the development of education and support programs to effectively meet the needs of this unique population.