The 19th International Conference on Pediatric Mechanical Circulatory Support Systems and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Perfusion took place on May 16 and 17, 2025, at the InRad Events Center of the Institute of Radiology at Hospital das Clínicas—FMUSP of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Co-organized by Luiz F. Caneo, Desiree Machado, Fernando Antoniali, Beatriz Furlanetto, Carolina Campos, Larissa Gondim, and Akif Ündar, this landmark event marked the first time it was hosted in South America, creating a unique opportunity to engage with colleagues globally (Figure 1).

Our primary objective was to unite multidisciplinary teams—including congenital heart surgeons, biomedical engineers, pediatric cardiologists, pediatric intensivists, anesthesiologists, basic scientists, nurses, and pediatric perfusionists—to advance the treatment paradigms for pediatric patients requiring acute or chronic mechanical circulatory support (MCS). By promoting open dialogue in a collaborative environment, we aimed to unlock groundbreaking solutions that could dramatically improve patient care across South America. This sold-out event attracted leading investigators and practitioners from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, and the United States.