Trahern W. Jones, Michael D. Seckeler

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 578-582, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12486

Abstract Objective: Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a manufacturing method by which an object is created in an additive process, and can be used with medical imaging data to generate accurate physical reproductions of organs and tissues for a variety of applications. We hypothesized that using 3D printed models of congenital cardiovascular lesions to supplement an educational lecture would improve learners’ scores on a board-style examination.
Design and Intervention: Patients with normal and abnormal aortic arches were selected and anonymized to generate 3D printed models. A cohort of pediatric and combined pediatric/emergency medicine residents were then randomized to intervention… More >

Tyler H. Harris¹, Mark Adler², Sharon M. Unti³, Mary E. McBride⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 546-553, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12483

Abstract Background: Training guidelines state that pediatricians should be able to diagnose, manage, and triage patients with heart disease. Acutely ill cardiac patients present infrequently and with high acuity, yet residents receive less exposure to acute cardiac conditions than previous generations. Trainees must learn to manage these situations despite this gap. Simulation has been used successfully to train learners to provide acute care. We hypothesized that a simulation-based cardiac curriculum would improve residents’ ability to manage cardiac patients.
Methods: Pediatric residents completed 4 simulation cases followed by debriefing and a computer presentation reviewing the learning objectives. Subjects returned… More >

Lubica Kovacikova¹, Martin Zahorec¹, Peter Skrak¹, Brian D. Hanna², R. Lee Vogel²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 491-496, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12480

Abstract Background: Telemedicine is a rapidly evolving form of modern information and communication technology used to deliver clinical services and educational activities.
Objective: The aim of this article is to report and analyze our experience with transatlantic consultation via videoconferencing in pediatric cardiology.
Methods: In February, 2013, videoconferencing project was launched between a medium-volume pediatric cardiac center in Bratislava, Slovakia and subspecialty experts from a high-volume pediatric cardiac program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), USA. During 1.5–2 hours videoconferences, 2–3 patients with similar complex clinical scenarios were presented to CHOP experts. The main goal of the project… More >

Waldemar F. Carlo¹, James F. Cnota², Robert J. Dabal³, Jeffrey B. Anderson²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.3, pp. 315-321, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12442

Abstract Objective: The National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC) was established in 2008 to improve outcomes of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) during the interstage period. They evaluated changes in patient variables and practice variation between early and late eras.
Design: Data including demographic, operative, discharge, and follow-up variables from the first 100 patients (6/2008–1/2010) representing 18 centers were compared with the most recent 100 patients (1/2014–11/2014) from these same centers.
Results: Prenatal diagnosis increased from 69% to 82% (P = .05). There were no differences in gestational age or weight at Norwood. A composite of any preoperative… More >

Antonio R. Mott¹, Steven R. Neish², Melissa Challman³, Timothy F. Feltes⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.3, pp. 294-300, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12438

Abstract Background: The treatment of children with cardiac disease is one of the most prevalent and costly pediatric inpatient conditions. The design of inpatient medical services for children admitted to and discharged from noncritical cardiology care units, however, is undefined. North American Pediatric Cardiology Programs were surveyed to define noncritical cardiac care unit models in current practice.
Method: An online survey that explored institutional and functional domains for noncritical cardiac care unit was crafted. All questions were multi-choice with comment boxes for further explanation. The survey was distributed by email four times over a 5-month period.
Results: Most programs… More >

Safwat A. Aly¹, David Zurakowski², Penny Glass³, Kami Skurow-Todd⁴, Richard A. Jonas⁵, Mary T. Donofrio⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.2, pp. 188-195, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12426

Abstract Importance: There are no well-established noninvasive biomarkers for identifying patients at risk for poor outcome after surgery for congenital heart disease. Few studies have assessed prognostic accuracy of cerebral tissue oxygenation index (cTOI) measured by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
Objective: To assess the utility of noninvasive NIRS monitoring as a predictor of outcomes after neonatal cardiac surgery through measurement of cTOI. To examine the utility of noninvasive NIRS monitoring in combination with lactate concentration and inotropic score in prediction of outcomes after neonatal cardiac surgery.
Design: Prospective longitudinal cohort study.
Setting: Operating room and cardiac intensive care unit, Children’s… More >