Pediheart: Pediatric Cardiology Today

This week we review a recent randomized and controlled trial from the NEJM on the use of the novel Medtronic TYRX envelope for the prevention of pacemaker or ICD infections in adult high risk patients. Did the use of this antibiotic envelope result in reduced incidences of infection? Were there complications associated with its use? Should this be used in only in high risk patients? Is this a cost effective solution? These are amongst the many questions we tackle with co-author of this important trial, Dr. Suneet Mittal who is the Director of Cardiovascular Research at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ. Dr. Mittal offers great insights into this trial and possible implications of these important findings. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1901111

This week we review a recent randomized and controlled trial from the NEJM on the use of the novel Medtronic TYRX envelope for the prevention of pacemaker or ICD infections in adult high risk patients. Did the use of this antibiotic envelope result in reduced incidences of infection? Were there complications associated with its use? Should this be used in only in high risk patients? Is this a cost effective solution? These are amongst the many questions we tackle with co-author of this important trial, Dr. Suneet Mittal who is the Director of Cardiovascular Research at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ. Dr. Mittal offers great insights into this trial and possible implications of these important findings. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1901111

This week we review a recent report from the team at the Kravis Children's Hospital at Mount Sinai - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai on the use of pentobarbital for oral sedation for transthoracic echocardiography. Associate Professor of Pediatrics Rajesh Shenoy shares with us insights into sedation for this indication, the general approach of the echo lab at Sinai and how decisions are made regarding sedation for this reason. doi: 10.1111/echo.14301

This week we review a recent report from the team at the Kravis Children's Hospital at Mount Sinai - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai on the use of pentobarbital for oral sedation for transthoracic echocardiography. Associate Professor of Pediatrics Rajesh Shenoy shares with us insights into sedation for this indication, the general approach of the echo lab at Sinai and how decisions are made regarding sedation for this reason. doi: 10.1111/echo.14301

This week we review a recent report on transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement with the Sapien S3 prosthesis. What are the circumstances in which this valve might be preferable versus other valve types? What are the disadvantages of this device? How can patients be effectively screened as candidates for different valves? How can decisions be made between self expanding systems like Harmony or Venus P versus this sort of device for large RVOT's? We review all of these issues and more with Dr. Daniel Levi of UCLA who offers a wonderful overview of transcatheter PVR in 2019. You will not want to miss his many insights. doi: 10.1002/ccd.27973

This week we review a recent report on transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement with the Sapien S3 prosthesis. What are the circumstances in which this valve might be preferable versus other valve types? What are the disadvantages of this device? How can patients be effectively screened as candidates for different valves? How can decisions be made between self expanding systems like Harmony or Venus P versus this sort of device for large RVOT's? We review all of these issues and more with Dr. Daniel Levi of UCLA who offers a wonderful overview of transcatheter PVR in 2019. You will not want to miss his many insights. doi: 10.1002/ccd.27973

This week we review an impressive review of the large Australian/New Zealand registry of Fontan patients assessing the impact of AV valve regurgitation and failure on Fontan outcomes. We discuss this work with the senior author Yves D'udekem, Associate Professor of Surgery at The Murdoch Children's Research Institute and also speak with Professor Frank Cetta of the Mayo Clinic who authored a wonderful editorial on this work. Who is at most risk for AV valve failure at Fontan? How well do patients do with AV valve replacement or repair? We discuss all these issues this week on this exciting episode. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.12.025

This week we review an impressive review of the large Australian/New Zealand registry of Fontan patients assessing the impact of AV valve regurgitation and failure on Fontan outcomes. We discuss this work with the senior author Yves D'udekem, Associate Professor of Surgery at The Murdoch Children's Research Institute and also speak with Professor Frank Cetta of the Mayo Clinic who authored a wonderful editorial on this work. Who is at most risk for AV valve failure at Fontan? How well do patients do with AV valve replacement or repair? We discuss all these issues this week on this exciting episode. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.12.025

This week we review a recent publication on modern day outcomes for children with dilated cardiomyopathy. It seems as if they are doing better than patients did 10 years earlier - why is this so? What factors may account for the improvements in outcomes? We discuss these questions and more with the first author of this multi center work, Dr. Rakesh Singh, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UC SanDiego and also the Director of the Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplantation Program at Rady Children's Hospital. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.09.1089

This week we review a recent publication on modern day outcomes for children with dilated cardiomyopathy. It seems as if they are doing better than patients did 10 years earlier - why is this so? What factors may account for the improvements in outcomes? We discuss these questions and more with the first author of this multi center work, Dr. Rakesh Singh, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at UC SanDiego and also the Director of the Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplantation Program at Rady Children's Hospital. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2017.09.1089

This week we discuss the rationale for intervening for unilateral proximal PA stenosis with a stent or angioplasty. In the setting of normal RV function or pressure, are there exercise data to support intervening and if so, at what degree of maldistribution should such an intervention be considered? How should this decision be made? Is this safe? We review these and other questions with the first author of this work, Gurumurthy Hiremath MD who is the director of the pediatric catheterization laboratory at the University of Minnesota. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2018.11.042

This week we discuss the rationale for intervening for unilateral proximal PA stenosis with a stent or angioplasty. In the setting of normal RV function or pressure, are there exercise data to support intervening and if so, at what degree of maldistribution should such an intervention be considered? How should this decision be made? Is this safe? We review these and other questions with the first author of this work, Gurumurthy Hiremath MD who is the director of the pediatric catheterization laboratory at the University of Minnesota. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2018.11.042

This week we review a recent paper on the topic of extended ambulatory ECG monitoring in the ACHD patient. Does this form of monitoring provide benefit versus a more traditional 24 or 48 hour "Holter" monitor? How commonly were arrhythmias in ACHD patients found after 48 hours and how commonly were changes made to management based upon these findings? We discuss these issues and more with the senior author of this work, Dr. Scott R. Ceresnak, Associate Professor of Pediatrics - Stanford University. doi: 10.1111/chd.12736

This week we review a recent paper on the topic of extended ambulatory ECG monitoring in the ACHD patient. Does this form of monitoring provide benefit versus a more traditional 24 or 48 hour "Holter" monitor? How commonly were arrhythmias in ACHD patients found after 48 hours and how commonly were changes made to management based upon these findings? We discuss these issues and more with the senior author of this work, Dr. Scott R. Ceresnak, Associate Professor of Pediatrics - Stanford University. doi: 10.1111/chd.12736

This week we review the topic of pulmonary hypertension and specifically the use of sildenafil for treatment of this difficult problem. Is this agent safe in children? How commonly does it need to be discontinued for side effects? Is it effective? Do patients ever improve to a degree that it can be discontinued? We review all of these questions and more with Dr. Jennifer Cohen who wrote this work while a general cardiology fellow at Columbia University but is now the Advanced Non-Invasive Imaging Fellow at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai - NYC. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.09.067