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Feeding behaviour in children and young people with a ventricular assist device (VAD): a scoping review

Feeding behaviour in children and young people with a ventricular assist device (VAD): a scoping review
Feeding behaviour in children and young people with a ventricular assist device (VAD): a scoping review
Advancements in medical technology have revolutionised the management of end-stage heart failure in children with ventricular assist devices (VADs), improving survival but introducing a range of challenges including complex issues affecting nutritional progression and feeding behaviour. This scoping review aimed to synthesise available evidence on feeding behaviour in paediatric VAD patients, explore factors affecting feeding behaviour and nutritional progression, and identify key research priorities in this domain.

Methods
Robust methods from the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMAScR guidelines were followed. We searched six databases for evidence on children’s feeding behaviour and nutritional progression post-VAD insertion, in any healthcare setting. No restrictions were applied to study design, publication year, location, culture, or gender, but non-English data sources were excluded.

Results
Twenty-one data sources were included, with most (67%, n = 14) from the United States, and (58%, n = 12) originating from grey literature or retrospective cohort reviews. Five key themes emerged: failure to achieve feeding milestones, meeting normal growth and childhood development goals, disruptive environments to childhood nutrition and care, illness severity, and medical management’s effects on feeding and improving the VAD journey for children and their families.

Conclusion
This review identified themes and factors affecting nutritional progression and feeding behaviour in VAD children, highlighting research priorities like growth, developmental milestones, and support strategies. Future research should focus on prospective and longitudinal designs and collaborate with researchers on multiple outcomes to advance this emerging field.
Rothman, Brittany
778d9954-ad1e-43a6-a15e-4d283b3f09ea
Marino, Luise V.
c479400f-9424-4879-9ca6-d81e6351de26
Darlington, Anne-Sophie
472fcfc9-160b-4344-8113-8dd8760ff962
Briggs, Emma
89cca716-d942-45db-807e-119742190672
Kidd, Catherine S.
a4a51072-5032-4eeb-938f-6f77d5f78bcd
Brown, Katherine
53fd0716-7266-4e74-8677-c1991153ecc7
Rothman, Brittany
778d9954-ad1e-43a6-a15e-4d283b3f09ea
Marino, Luise V.
c479400f-9424-4879-9ca6-d81e6351de26
Darlington, Anne-Sophie
472fcfc9-160b-4344-8113-8dd8760ff962
Briggs, Emma
89cca716-d942-45db-807e-119742190672
Kidd, Catherine S.
a4a51072-5032-4eeb-938f-6f77d5f78bcd
Brown, Katherine
53fd0716-7266-4e74-8677-c1991153ecc7

Rothman, Brittany, Marino, Luise V., Darlington, Anne-Sophie, Briggs, Emma, Kidd, Catherine S. and Brown, Katherine (2025) Feeding behaviour in children and young people with a ventricular assist device (VAD): a scoping review. Intensive Care Medicine - Paediatric and Neonatal, 3, [10]. (doi:10.1007/s44253-025-00065-6).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Advancements in medical technology have revolutionised the management of end-stage heart failure in children with ventricular assist devices (VADs), improving survival but introducing a range of challenges including complex issues affecting nutritional progression and feeding behaviour. This scoping review aimed to synthesise available evidence on feeding behaviour in paediatric VAD patients, explore factors affecting feeding behaviour and nutritional progression, and identify key research priorities in this domain.

Methods
Robust methods from the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMAScR guidelines were followed. We searched six databases for evidence on children’s feeding behaviour and nutritional progression post-VAD insertion, in any healthcare setting. No restrictions were applied to study design, publication year, location, culture, or gender, but non-English data sources were excluded.

Results
Twenty-one data sources were included, with most (67%, n = 14) from the United States, and (58%, n = 12) originating from grey literature or retrospective cohort reviews. Five key themes emerged: failure to achieve feeding milestones, meeting normal growth and childhood development goals, disruptive environments to childhood nutrition and care, illness severity, and medical management’s effects on feeding and improving the VAD journey for children and their families.

Conclusion
This review identified themes and factors affecting nutritional progression and feeding behaviour in VAD children, highlighting research priorities like growth, developmental milestones, and support strategies. Future research should focus on prospective and longitudinal designs and collaborate with researchers on multiple outcomes to advance this emerging field.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 23 February 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 31 March 2025

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 501386
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/501386
PURE UUID: b5d31384-c031-4746-b09d-8a36e409ffcf
ORCID for Anne-Sophie Darlington: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4387-7278

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 30 May 2025 16:38
Last modified: 29 Aug 2025 01:45

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Contributors

Author: Brittany Rothman
Author: Luise V. Marino
Author: Emma Briggs
Author: Catherine S. Kidd
Author: Katherine Brown

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