Pediheart: Pediatric Cardiology Today

This week we speak with Professor Yoav Dori of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia about a recent paper he co-authored on the topic of lymphatic abnormalities in children with Noonan's syndrome. What are the typical findings in severely affected children and who is a candidate for intervention? Are there patients who are good candidates for 'thoracic duct ligation' or pleurodesis? Is there anyone in whom this would be considered appropriate therapy? We discuss these questions and more with the master of the lymphatic system, Dr. Dori. doi: 10.1007/s00247-018-04337-6.

This week we explore a recent CMR study in Fontan patients assessing the impact of pulmonary blood flow maldistribution and exercise capacity. How closely associated are these differences in relative pulmonary blood flow to functional status and overall outcomes? How aggressively should we intervene for these sorts of problems? We discuss these issues and more with Dr. Rahul Rathod who is the senior author of this work and also Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School. doi: 10.1186/s12968-018-0505-4

This week we explore a recent CMR study in Fontan patients assessing the impact of pulmonary blood flow maldistribution and exercise capacity. How closely associated are these differences in relative pulmonary blood flow to functional status and overall outcomes? How aggressively should we intervene for these sorts of problems? We discuss these issues and more with Dr. Rahul Rathod who is the senior author of this work and also Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School. doi: 10.1186/s12968-018-0505-4

This week we review a fascinating paper that assesses the direct myocardial effects of IV antiarrhythmic agents upon cardiac muscle function performed by the group at Boston Children's Hospital - Harvard University. We speak with one of the principle authors of this work, Dr. Elizabeth DeWitt, who is an attending electrophysiologist at that large institution about this important work. Which agents were substantial negative inotropes and which had no effects? The answers may be surprising. Dr. DeWitt shares the general approach of the team in Boston when treating arrhythmias that require rapid IV therapies. doi: 10.1177/1074248418810811

This week we review a fascinating paper that assesses the direct myocardial effects of IV antiarrhythmic agents upon cardiac muscle function performed by the group at Boston Children's Hospital - Harvard University. We speak with one of the principle authors of this work, Dr. Elizabeth DeWitt, who is an attending electrophysiologist at that large institution about this important work. Which agents were substantial negative inotropes and which had no effects? The answers may be surprising. Dr. DeWitt shares the general approach of the team in Boston when treating arrhythmias that require rapid IV therapies. doi: 10.1177/1074248418810811

This week we review a critically important neurodevelopmental issue affecting infants who have single ventricle palliation - namely hearing loss. How common is hearing loss seen and what role does IV furosemide play in this finding amongst single ventricle patients? Are there techniques to avoid this complication and yet still use this commonly used diuretic agent? We discuss this important issue and study with Dr. Ari Joffe, Professor of Pediatrics University of Alberta - Stollery Children's Hospital who is the senior author of this week's work. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000001807

This week we review a critically important neurodevelopmental issue affecting infants who have single ventricle palliation - namely hearing loss. How common is hearing loss seen and what role does IV furosemide play in this finding amongst single ventricle patients? Are there techniques to avoid this complication and yet still use this commonly used diuretic agent? We discuss this important issue and study with Dr. Ari Joffe, Professor of Pediatrics University of Alberta - Stollery Children's Hospital who is the senior author of this week's work. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000001807

This week it's National Pediatric Transplant Week and we review a recent work on ECMO following cardiac transplant and speak with its first author, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in Vanderbilt University, Dr. Justin Godown. How does the use of ECMO in the postoperative period influence outcomes in the short and long term? Are there differences in outcomes when it is used for patients with cardiomyopathy versus congenital heart disease? We review all of these and more with Dr. Godown. We speak also with Melissa McQueen of Transplantfamilies.org about her organization which strives to educate and support the families of children undergoing transplantation. Ms. McQueen's story is certainly an inspiring one. doi: 10.1111/petr.1341

This week it's National Pediatric Transplant Week and we review a recent work on ECMO following cardiac transplant and speak with its first author, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in Vanderbilt University, Dr. Justin Godown. How does the use of ECMO in the postoperative period influence outcomes in the short and long term? Are there differences in outcomes when it is used for patients with cardiomyopathy versus congenital heart disease? We review all of these and more with Dr. Godown. We speak also with Melissa McQueen of Transplantfamilies.org about her organization which strives to educate and support the families of children undergoing transplantation. Ms. McQueen's story is certainly an inspiring one. doi: 10.1111/petr.1341

This week we review a recent report from Duke University regarding the incidence of femoral arterial thrombosis after femoral arterial cardiac catheterization in small infants. How did the use of routine ultrasonography improve identification of this post-cath complication? What are the outcomes of therapy with heparin or enoxaparin for this problem? Are there factors that are associated with femoral arterial thrombosis? We discuss these questions and more with Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Kevin Hill. doi: 10.1002/ccd.28009

This week we review a recent report from Duke University regarding the incidence of femoral arterial thrombosis after femoral arterial cardiac catheterization in small infants. How did the use of routine ultrasonography improve identification of this post-cath complication? What are the outcomes of therapy with heparin or enoxaparin for this problem? Are there factors that are associated with femoral arterial thrombosis? We discuss these questions and more with Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Kevin Hill. doi: 10.1002/ccd.28009

This week we explore the utility of exercise stress echocardiography in pediatric patients. How often were clinical decisions made based upon findings at stress echo? What sort of extra training is needed to perform these studies? How safe was this form of testing? How are stress echo results incorporated into the decision making process for pediatric patients at Emory University? Dr. Soham Dasgupta, 2nd year fellow in cardiology and first author of this work, shares some of the insights of this large Emory experience. doi: 10.1111/echo.14326

This week we explore the utility of exercise stress echocardiography in pediatric patients. How often were clinical decisions made based upon findings at stress echo? What sort of extra training is needed to perform these studies? How safe was this form of testing? How are stress echo results incorporated into the decision making process for pediatric patients at Emory University? Dr. Soham Dasgupta, 2nd year fellow in cardiology and first author of this work, shares some of the insights of this large Emory experience. doi: 10.1111/echo.14326

This week we review 2 surgical reports. The first is on the Ozaki Procedure for aortic valve repair and we speak with valvular expert David Kalfa, MD PhD of Columbia University. Who is a good candidate for this approach and what evidence exists of its efficacy in children? Dr. Kalfa shares his insights. We also review a recent report from Taormina, Italy on outcomes of repair of anomalous origin of the PA's from the ascending aorta. We discuss this work with its author, Professor Salvatore Agati. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.01.087

This week we review 2 surgical reports. The first is on the Ozaki Procedure for aortic valve repair and we speak with valvular expert David Kalfa, MD PhD of Columbia University. Who is a good candidate for this approach and what evidence exists of its efficacy in children? Dr. Kalfa shares his insights. We also review a recent report from Taormina, Italy on outcomes of repair of anomalous origin of the PA's from the ascending aorta. We discuss this work with its author, Professor Salvatore Agati. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.01.087