Global insights into pediatric ischemic stroke: a bibliometric and visualization analysis

Background Ischemic stroke (IS) is a cardiovascular disorder resulting from the obstruction of cerebral blood vessels, which significantly affects children’s long-term quality of life due to chronic neurological sequelae. This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research trends and hotspots in pediatric IS. Methods Relevant publications on pediatric IS from 2000 to 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) and PubMed database. Bibliometric analyses and visualizations were performed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the Bibliometrix R package. Results A steadily increasing publication trend has been observed since 2000. The most cited study was published in The Lancet by Feigin et al. in 2014. Pediatric Neurology had the highest number of publications, whereas Stroke ranked first in citations and H-index. The United States led in both publication volume and collaborative networks, while the Hospital for Sick Children in Canada stood out with the highest number of publications and citations among institutions. Gabrielle deVeber was the most prolific and influential author in terms of publications count and H-index. Current research hotspots mainly focus on etiological investigations, clinical interventions, and multidisciplinary collaborative approaches in the management of pediatric IS. Conclusion This study provides a bibliometric analysis to systematically explore research trends and development in pediatric IS. Enhanced international and institutional collaborations are needed to promote the equitable dissemination of scientific knowledge and resources in this field.