Pediheart: Pediatric Cardiology Today

This week we explore an important paper from CHOP on the optimal approach to repair for Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Is there a benefit to a staged approach versus primary complete repair? Are there factors that might influence this decision of approach? We speak with Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Laura Mercer Rosa of The University of Pennsylvania about her recent large PHIS database study. This is a rare replay episode from last year but one of the very best of the entire series thus far with redone intro and musical endings. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.05.057.

This week we explore an important paper from CHOP on the optimal approach to repair for Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Is there a benefit to a staged approach versus primary complete repair? Are there factors that might influence this decision of approach? We speak with Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Laura Mercer Rosa of The University of Pennsylvania about her recent large PHIS database study. This is a rare replay episode from last year but one of the very best of the entire series thus far with redone intro and musical endings. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.05.057.

This week we review a recent work from the C3P0 registry on trans-catheter pulmonary valves. How common were adverse events encountered in this 'real world' assessment? How does this value compare with surgical pulmonary valve replacement? What factors are associated with higher doses of radiation in this procedure? We speak with Dr. Barry Love, Director of the Congenital Catheterization Laboratory at Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital who wrote a very insightful accompanying editorial comment on this paper. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.042

This week we review a recent work from the C3P0 registry on trans-catheter pulmonary valves. How common were adverse events encountered in this 'real world' assessment? How does this value compare with surgical pulmonary valve replacement? What factors are associated with higher doses of radiation in this procedure? We speak with Dr. Barry Love, Director of the Congenital Catheterization Laboratory at Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital who wrote a very insightful accompanying editorial comment on this paper. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.11.042

This week we delve into the topic of fellow wellness and review a recent work from the Boston Children's group on fellow fears and stressors when beginning their training. Are there patterns amongst the fellow concerns that can be identified and used to inform interventions to help allay these fears and reduce the stress? We speak with Dr. David Brown, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School and also Dr. Tony Pastor who is the ACHD Fellow at Boston Children's Hospital/Brigham and Women's Hospital about their thoughts on fellow fears and stressors as well as fellow (and doctor) wellness. An important topic for our milestone 130th episode. doi: 10.1007/s00246-019-02276-z.

This week we delve into the topic of fellow wellness and review a recent work from the Boston Children's group on fellow fears and stressors when beginning their training. Are there patterns amongst the fellow concerns that can be identified and used to inform interventions to help allay these fears and reduce the stress? We speak with Dr. David Brown, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School and also Dr. Tony Pastor who is the ACHD Fellow at Boston Children's Hospital/Brigham and Women's Hospital about their thoughts on fellow fears and stressors as well as fellow (and doctor) wellness. An important topic for our milestone 130th episode. doi: 10.1007/s00246-019-02276-z.

This week we speak with Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as well as Chief, Pediatric Cardiology at BronxCare Health System, Dr. Kanika Mathur, about a recent work she co-authored on the topic of enalapril in the single ventricle patient. How safe are these agents in the single ventricle patient? How common were side effects encountered at standard dosing? Dr. Mathur shares her insights from a recent large database analysis study. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.07.058

This week we speak with Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as well as Chief, Pediatric Cardiology at BronxCare Health System, Dr. Kanika Mathur, about a recent work she co-authored on the topic of enalapril in the single ventricle patient. How safe are these agents in the single ventricle patient? How common were side effects encountered at standard dosing? Dr. Mathur shares her insights from a recent large database analysis study. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.07.058

This week we review a recent report of the novel IV anti arrhythmic agent sotalol. We speak with EP fellow Dr. Alejandro Borquez of Rady Children's Hospital about this agent and where the team at Rady believes it fits in the 'armamentarium' of agents used to treat difficult arrhythmias in children. How effective is the drug for 'regular' SVT or infant atrial flutter? How commonly were adverse events seen with its administration? Dr. Borquez provides the answers this week. doi: 10.1016/j.jacep.2019.11.019

This week we review a recent report of the novel IV anti arrhythmic agent sotalol. We speak with EP fellow Dr. Alejandro Borquez of Rady Children's Hospital about this agent and where the team at Rady believes it fits in the 'armamentarium' of agents used to treat difficult arrhythmias in children. How effective is the drug for 'regular' SVT or infant atrial flutter? How commonly were adverse events seen with its administration? Dr. Borquez provides the answers this week. doi: 10.1016/j.jacep.2019.11.019

This week we enter the worlds of fellow education and echocardiography to review a recent report of a QI project performed at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia regarding the performance of echocardiograms by first year fellows in cardiology. Can the implementation of a checklist protocol improve the consistency of echocardiograms performed by fellows? What was the impact of this protocol? What areas were particularly well served by this approach? Dr. Brian White, senior cardiology fellow at CHOP provides important insights into this project that he co-authored. doi: 10.1111/echo.14441

This week we enter the worlds of fellow education and echocardiography to review a recent report of a QI project performed at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia regarding the performance of echocardiograms by first year fellows in cardiology. Can the implementation of a checklist protocol improve the consistency of echocardiograms performed by fellows? What was the impact of this protocol? What areas were particularly well served by this approach? Dr. Brian White, senior cardiology fellow at CHOP provides important insights into this project that he co-authored. doi: 10.1111/echo.14441

This week we delve into cardiac surgery and genetics as we review a recent large dataset study from Drs. Anita Moon-Grady and Laxmi Ghimire who used the KID database to determine the impact of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome on outcomes of repair of TOF and Truncus. Does this syndrome affect mortality or morbidity? If so, why? Professor Moon-Grady of UCSF and Dr. Ghimire of LRGHealthcare provide many insights in this episode. doi: 10.1007/s00246-020-02333-y.

This week we delve into cardiac surgery and genetics as we review a recent large dataset study from Drs. Anita Moon-Grady and Laxmi Ghimire who used the KID database to determine the impact of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome on outcomes of repair of TOF and Truncus. Does this syndrome affect mortality or morbidity? If so, why? Professor Moon-Grady of UCSF and Dr. Ghimire of LRGHealthcare provide many insights in this episode. doi: 10.1007/s00246-020-02333-y.

This week we review a fascinating epidemiological study from the University of Ottawa on the impact of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and twins on the rates of congenital heart disease. What is the more important factor in the development of congenital heart disease - twin pregnancy or ART? Do all ART pregnancies require a fetal echo? We speak with 3 world authorities - epidemiologist Dr. Shi Wu Wen, pediatric cardiologist Dr. Jane Lougheed and fertility expert, Dr. Arthur Leader - all professors at the University of Ottawa. A fascinating topic and discussion! DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.6096