Pediatric organ transplantation has witnessed remarkable advancements over recent decades. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) serves as a critical, lifesaving intervention for children in peri-transplantation period. This study aims to conduct a visual bibliometric assessment of emerging hotspots and developmental trends in the realm of ECMO-supported pediatric organ transplantation. The Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database was employed to identify and collate relevant literature on ECMO-supported pediatric organ transplantation published between 1994 and 2024 using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. The majority of the most prolific and highly cited authors are based in North America, with additional contributions from Europe and China. Over the span of three decades, research in this domain has involved the collaboration of 2459 authors. A notable trend of active collaboration among ECMO researchers was observed, particularly with Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital emerging as leading institutions. Since 2015, cardiothoracic transplantation centers in China have increasingly contributed to the literature. Research on ECMO support in liver and renal transplantation has emerged as a prominent trend and frontier within this discipline. Additionally, outcomes related to transplantation and long-term survival, derived from large cohort studies, have become a significant area of interest in the published literature. Current research has demonstrated a more favorable outcome of ECMO-supported pediatric organ transplantation recipients. The research hotspots and trends identified on a global scale provide valuable insights for researchers, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape and emerging trajectories in this vital field of study.
Guohui et al. (2026) studied this question.