Melissa Cousino-Hood

Chart of concerns reported by adolescents living with a VAD at home, including emergencies, infection, and bleeding.

“It’s Not Like My Old Life, But It’s Still Freedom”: An ACTION Learning Network Mixed Methods Analysis of the Adolescent Ventricular Assist Device Experience at Home

Adolescents and young adults are increasingly discharged home on a ventricular assist device, but little is known about what that period is actually like. Seventeen young people interviewed across ACTION sites described worries centered on emergencies, infection, and bleeding, along with limits on friendships, sports, and freedom of movement.

“It’s Not Like My Old Life, But It’s Still Freedom”: An ACTION Learning Network Mixed Methods Analysis of the Adolescent Ventricular Assist Device Experience at Home Read More »

End-of-Life in Pediatric Patients Supported by Ventricular Assist Devices: A Network Database Cohort Study

One-in-six pediatric VAD patients die while receiving device support, with death occurring soon after implant and usually from noncardiac causes. Aggressive interventions are common at the end-of-life. The ACTION Registry data should inform future practices to promote informed patient/family and clinician decision-making to hopefully reduce suffering at the end-of-life.

End-of-Life in Pediatric Patients Supported by Ventricular Assist Devices: A Network Database Cohort Study Read More »