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1.
Curr Opin Cardiol ; 33(1): 117-120, 2018 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29049043

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to explore the paradigm shift in healthcare delivery that will need to take place over the next few years away from an emphasis on supply-driven health care to better quality transparent-driven health care whose focus is on the consumer's best interest. RECENT FINDINGS: The current healthcare system is fragmented and costs continue to rise. The best way to contain costs is to improve quality to the consumer, the patient. Physicians and hospitals need to align in a team-based approach that allows physicians to understand current costs and how to strive toward a focus on healthcare outcomes. Pediatric cardiology is a unique discipline that cares for patients with complex congenital conditions that will span their lifetime and also involves not just cardiology but surgery, intensive care, anesthesia, nursing, and a host of inpatient and ambulatory services. Understanding what matters to the patient and his/her family and presenting quality outcomes in a transparent fashion will gradually allow a shift to take place away from physician visits, tests ordered, and procedures performed. This can only be achieved with physicians, given the appropriate tools to understand costs, value, and outcomes and models where the hospitals and physicians are aligned. SUMMARY: The transformation to a value-based healthcare system is beginning and pediatric cardiologists need to be educated, given the appropriate resources, receive appropriate feedback, and patients need to be part of the solution so that care providers can understand what matters most to them.


Subject(s)
Cardiology/standards , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Pediatrics/standards , Quality of Health Care , Cardiology/economics , Delivery of Health Care/economics , Delivery of Health Care/standards , Humans , Pediatrics/economics
2.
Cardiol Young ; 26(3): 499-505, 2016 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25902744

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We sought to benchmark the utilisation of echocardiography in the outpatient evaluation of heart murmurs by evaluating two large paediatric cardiology centres. BACKGROUND: Although criteria exist for appropriate use of echocardiography, there are no benchmarking data demonstrating its utilisation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of outpatients aged between 0 and 18 years at the Sibley Heart Center Cardiology and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Cardiology, given a sole diagnosis of "innocent murmur" from 1 July, 2007 to 31 October, 2010. Using internal claims data, we compared the utilisation of echocardiography according to centre, patient age, and physician years of service. RESULTS: Of 23,114 eligible patients (Sibley Heart Center Cardiology: 12,815, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Cardiology: 10,299), 43.1% (Sibley Heart Center Cardiology: 45.2%, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Cardiology: 40.4%; p1-5 years had the lowest utilisation (32.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In two large paediatric cardiology practices, the overall utilisation of echocardiography by physicians with a sole diagnosis of innocent murmur was similar. There was significant and similar variability in utilisation by provider at both centres. Although these data serve as initial benchmarking, the variability in utilisation highlights the importance of appropriate use criteria.


Subject(s)
Benchmarking , Echocardiography/statistics & numerical data , Heart Murmurs/diagnostic imaging , Outpatients , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Hospitals, Pediatric , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Philadelphia , Referral and Consultation , Retrospective Studies
3.
Pediatr Cardiol ; 33(7): 1147-53, 2012 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22430375

ABSTRACT

Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), a common tachycardia in children, is routinely treated by catheter ablation using radiofrequency or cryothermal energy. Acute success rates of 95-97 % are reported for cryoablation, similar to those achieved with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). However, early studies reported higher recurrence rates after cryoablation for treatment of AVNRT than those reported for RFA. This study evaluated the success and recurrence rates for cryoablation in a current cohort of pediatric patients across several institutions. Patients 21 years old or younger with AVNRT who underwent cryoablation at five participating centers between 2004 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics and procedural data were extracted from patient records and analyzed. A total of 434 patients with AVNRT who underwent cryoablation were identified. Cryoablation was used as the exclusive ablation method for 379 patients. For 97 % (368/379) of these patients, cryoablation was acutely successful. A higher acute success rate was found with the 6-mm-tip catheter (99 %) than with the 4-mm-tip catheter (91 %) (p < 0.01). Recurrence was experienced by 7.3 % of the patients. Recurrence was more likely for those treated with the 4-mm-tip catheter (6/42, 14 %) than for those who had the larger catheters (12/204, 6 %) No patient experienced permanent heart block. Success and recurrence rates for this cohort of patients were similar to those reported for RFA used to treat AVNRT in pediatric patients. The findings show a higher success rate and a lower recurrence rate after cryoablation with a 6-mm-tip catheter than after use of the 4-mm-tip catheter, with an associated excellent safety profile.


Subject(s)
Cryosurgery/methods , Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry/surgery , Adolescent , Analysis of Variance , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Logistic Models , Male , Recurrence , Retrospective Studies , Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry/physiopathology , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
4.
AMIA Annu Symp Proc ; 2012: 726-33, 2012.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23304346

ABSTRACT

This study evaluates a clinical pathway currently being employed at a large single-center pediatric cardiology practice. The dataset includes 1,997 pediatric patients with the primary complaint of chest pain. A logistic regression model was developed to predict cardiac disease and identify strong indicators of cardiac pathology. The area under the ROC curve was 0.73 and the Matthews correlation coefficient was 0.23. Given the low incidence of pathology disease, this study was unable to identify strong predictors of major cardiac pathology. The analysis did support syncope, palpitations and the onset of chest pain in the past 2-7 days as predictors of minor cardiac disease. However, the model indicated exertional chest pain is negatively associated with cardiac disease. This data should be evaluated with caution as some of the results are contrary to most clinical cardiologists' views. The majority of the results support the cardiac disease predictors in the clinical pathway.


Subject(s)
Chest Pain/etiology , Decision Support Techniques , Electronic Health Records , Heart Diseases/diagnosis , Adolescent , Analysis of Variance , Cardiology/methods , Child , Critical Pathways , Heart Diseases/complications , Humans , Logistic Models , Pediatrics/methods , ROC Curve , Surveys and Questionnaires
5.
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg ; 140(1): 158-60, 2010 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20381087

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Patients undergoing surgical closure of ventricular septal defects are at risk for immediate or delayed atrioventricular conduction block. Our goal was to better define the incidence of delayed atrioventricular conduction block. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of hospital records and pacemaker database for ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular canal, and tetralogy of Fallot repairs between 1999 and 2004. A total of 922 patients were identified (atrioventricular canal in 197, tetralogy of Fallot in 222, and ventricular septal defect in 503). Median follow-up was 4.1 years. RESULTS: There were 472 male and 450 female patients, median age 6 months (0-444 months) and median weight 5.8 kg (1.3-116 kg) at surgery. Postoperative atrioventricular conduction block developed in 21 (2.3%) of the 922, being transient, with return of conduction 3 days (1-14 days) after surgery, in 13 (1.4%) and permanent, with pacemakers implanted 10 days (6-20 days) after surgery, in 8 (0.9%). Of the 905 patients at risk for delayed atrioventricular conduction block, 3 (0.3%) had second- or third-degree block at 2, 8, and 16 months after surgery. Two of these 3 had transient postoperative block. For isolated ventricular septal defects, the incidence was 1 (0.2%) of 496. There were 8 late deaths at 31 months (7-45 months) after surgery. Five had normal conduction at death, but for 3 patients the conduction status at death could not be determined. Including these 3 patients as possible cases of delayed atrioventricular block yields an incidence of 0.3% to 0.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of early atrioventricular conduction block requiring a pacemaker was 0.9% and that of delayed atrioventricular conduction block was 0.3% to 0.7%. Transient atrioventricular conduction block may be a marker for increased risk of delayed block. These data may be useful for evaluation of new techniques.


Subject(s)
Atrioventricular Block/etiology , Cardiac Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular/surgery , Tetralogy of Fallot/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Atrioventricular Block/physiopathology , Atrioventricular Block/therapy , Cardiac Pacing, Artificial , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular/mortality , Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular/physiopathology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Pacemaker, Artificial , Retrospective Studies , Tetralogy of Fallot/physiopathology , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
6.
J Pediatr ; 157(3): 445-9, 2010 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20400103

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes associated with isolated bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) during childhood and adolescence. STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of a large single institutional cohort of children (n=981) with isolated BAV was undertaken to determine the prevalence of significant ascending aortic dilation and risk of cardiac events. Subjects with known genetic disorders, critical aortic stenosis (intervention required in infancy), or additional lesions such as coarctation of the aorta were excluded. Aortic dimensions were derived from echocardiography, and values were plotted as Z scores. Clinical outcomes included death, aortic dissection, balloon aortic valvuloplasty, or cardiac surgery. RESULTS: The median age of the subjects at diagnosis was 8.3 years. At the time of the last pediatric follow-up, 7% of the subjects had moderate aortic regurgitation or greater, and the median Z score for the ascending aorta was +2.31. There were 9427 patient years of follow-up. Primary cardiac events occurred in 38 subjects, yielding an event rate of 0.004 per patient year. Eleven subjects (1.1%) underwent aortic valve surgery. Thirty subjects (3.0%) underwent balloon dilatation of the aortic valve. There was a single case of endocarditis. There were no cardiac-related deaths and no cases of aortic dissection. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of primary cardiac events in children with BAV is relatively low, approximately 3-fold lower than in young adults, and is generally related to aortic stenosis amenable to balloon dilatation. Although mild ascending aortic dilation is common in children, the clinical course is relatively benign. In this series, aortic dissection did not occur. Whether elective surgery for the dilated aorta has a role in children remains unknown.


Subject(s)
Aortic Diseases/epidemiology , Aortic Valve/abnormalities , Heart Valve Diseases/epidemiology , Adolescent , Aorta , Aortic Diseases/etiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Cohort Studies , Female , Heart Valve Diseases/etiology , Humans , Infant , Male
7.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol ; 20(3): 287-90, 2009 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19175843

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) use is increasing in young patients and is frequently complicated by inappropriate device discharges (IDs), leading to discomfort, anxiety and, potentially, proarrhythmia. Dual-chamber (DC) ICDs may decrease IDs by improving rhythm discrimination, but are associated with increased size, expense, and implant complications. We examined whether the frequency of IDs was the same in dual- and single-chamber (SC) ICDs in young patients. METHODS: A multicenter review of patients

Subject(s)
Arrhythmias, Cardiac/epidemiology , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/prevention & control , Defibrillators, Implantable/statistics & numerical data , Equipment Failure/statistics & numerical data , Heart Defects, Congenital/epidemiology , Heart Defects, Congenital/therapy , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Equipment Failure Analysis , Female , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Pediatrics/methods , Retrospective Studies , United States/epidemiology , Young Adult
8.
Am J Cardiol ; 102(7): 913-5, 2008 Oct 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18805121

ABSTRACT

Children undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are believed to be at increased risk of developing malignancy caused by radiation, although the magnitude of this risk is incompletely understood. We previously reported a strategy to reduce radiation exposure during pediatric RFA. In a cohort of 15 subjects (median age 12 years, range 9 to 17), radiation was measured using dosimeters at 5 sites. The risk of malignancy using measured radiation absorbed dose was calculated. International Council for Radiation Protection 60 risk estimates were applied to calculate absorbed organ doses. Median duration of combined biplane fluoroscopy was 14.4 minutes. Of the 5 dosimeter locations, the right scapular location had the highest median radiation exposure (43 mGy). Incorporating data from the 5 dosimeters, the risk model calculated that the organ with the greatest absorbed dose and at greatest risk of malignancy was the lung, followed by bone marrow, then breast. Thyroid and ovary exposures were negligible. The increased lifetime risk of fatal malignancy was 0.02% per single RFA procedure. In conclusion, with appropriate measures to reduce radiation exposure, the increased risk of malignancy after a single RFA procedure in children is low. These data should be of help counseling families and will contribute to analysis of the relative risk reduction benefits of such novel imaging approaches as a magnetic resonance imaging-based catheterization laboratory.


Subject(s)
Catheter Ablation/adverse effects , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/prevention & control , Adolescent , Child , Female , Fluoroscopy , Humans , Male , Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/etiology , Phantoms, Imaging , Radiation Dosage , Radiation Protection , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors
9.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol ; 19(5): 483-8, 2008 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18266678

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Patients with heart block have conventionally received a pacemaker that stimulates the right ventricular apex (RVA) to restore heart rate control. While RVA pacing has been shown to create systolic dyssynchrony acutely, dyssynchrony can also occur in diastole. The effects of acute RVA pacing on diastolic synchrony have not been investigated. RVA pacing acutely impairs diastolic function by increasing the time constant of relaxation, decreasing the peak lengthening rate and decreasing peak negative dP/dt. We therefore hypothesized that acute RVA pacing would cause diastolic dyssynchrony in addition to creating systolic dyssynchrony. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fourteen patients (13 +/- 4 years old) with non-preexcited supraventricular tachycardia underwent ablation therapy with subsequent testing to confirm elimination of the tachycardia substrate. Normal cardiac structure and function were then documented on two-dimensional echocardiography and 12-lead electrocardiography prior to enrollment. Tissue Doppler images were collected during normal sinus rhythm (NSR), right atrial appendage pacing (AAI), and VVI-RVA pacing during the postablation waiting interval. Systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony were quantified using cross-correlation analysis of tissue Doppler velocity curves. Systolic dyssynchrony increased 81% during RVA pacing relative to AAI and NSR (P < 0.01). Diastolic synchrony was not affected by the different pacing modes (P = 0.375). CONCLUSION: Acute dyssynchronous activation of the LV created by RVA pacing resulted in systolic dyssynchrony with preserved diastolic synchrony in pediatric patients following catheter ablation for treatment of supraventricular tachycardia. Our results suggest that systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony are not tightly coupled and may develop through separate mechanisms.


Subject(s)
Cardiac Pacing, Artificial/adverse effects , Cardiac Pacing, Artificial/methods , Tachycardia, Ventricular/complications , Tachycardia, Ventricular/prevention & control , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/diagnosis , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/etiology , Adolescent , Electrocardiography , Female , Humans , Male
10.
Pediatr Cardiol ; 29(2): 393-7, 2008 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18026780

ABSTRACT

Ectopic atrial tachycardia (EAT) is often resistant to medical therapy, with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) being a preferred treatment option. Three-dimensional (3-D) electroanatomic mapping was introduced as a tool for improved substrate localization, although there are no published data with this technology in pediatric patients with EAT. The objective of this study was to examine our experience with 3-D mapping and standard mapping in this patient population. We used retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with EAT requiring RFA from 1993 to 2004. We analyzed the method of ablation, acute success and recurrence rates, procedure and fluoroscopy times, and cardiac function. Twenty-five patients underwent 31 RFA procedures. All patients had been followed for >6 months (6 months to 7 years). Standard mapping (Group 1) was used in 11 patients (5F/6M, 1.4-11.8 years) who underwent 13 RFA procedures; 3-D mapping (Group 2, October 2000-2004) was used in 16 patients (8 F/8M, 2.7-17 years) who underwent 18 RFA procedures. Left-sided focus was present in 6/13 in Group 1 and 7/18 in Group 2 (all transeptal, NS). There was a trend toward fewer lesions with 3-D mapping (15 +/- 14, median 9.5 in Group 1; 8 +/- 6, median 6.5 in Group 2, NS). Acute success was more likely for patients in which 3-D mapping was utilized (10/13 Group 1 vs. 18/18 Group 2, p < 0.04). Recurrence or persistence of tachycardia at follow-up (2 weeks to 1 year) was documented in 7/13 cases in Group 1, compared to only 2/18 cases in Group 2 (p = 0.01). Six patients underwent repeat RFA: two patients using standard mapping (one failure, one success) and four patients using 3-D mapping [all acute and long-term (>1 year) success]. Procedure times (232 +/- 84 vs. 268 +/- 72 min, skin-to-skin) and fluoroscopy times (47 +/- 24 vs. 40 +/- 20 min) were similar (NS). Of the 25 pts, 17 (7 in Group 1, 10 in Group 2, NS) presented with cardiomyopathy [Ejection fraction (EF), 38.6 +/- 12.1%]. Successful RFA resulted in improved EF (61.1 +/- 11.6%, p < 0.0001) in the 14 patients in whom pre-RFA and post-RFA echocardiograms were available. Compared to standard techniques, 3-D electroanatomic mapping has resulted in no acute failures, statistically reduced recurrence rates, and improved overall success in the management of EAT.


Subject(s)
Body Surface Potential Mapping/methods , Catheter Ablation/methods , Heart Conduction System/surgery , Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial/physiopathology , Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial/surgery , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Heart Conduction System/physiopathology , Humans , Infant , Male , Retrospective Studies , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome
11.
Am J Med Genet A ; 143A(24): 2904-9, 2007 Dec 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18000913

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to identify congenital anomalies (CA) among infants of women with diabetes mellitus (DM) that, even though infrequent or infrequently reported, may suggest diabetic teratogenesis. Using 1976-2005 data from the Spanish Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECEMC), we compared the frequency of selected CA among 130 infants with CA born to women with pregestational DM (PGDM) and 30,009 infants with CA whose mothers had normal glucose tolerance (NGT). To identify which CA were not only significantly more frequent among infants of mothers with PGDM, but also more specific, we calculated the quotient of their frequencies (frequency ratio: FR). The same analysis was made using data from 927 infants of mothers with gestational DM (GDM). Among the studied defects, several were statistically significantly more frequent among infants of PGDM mothers than among infants of mothers with NGT, although the specificity of their association with DM varied, as indicated by the values of the FR. These included: anorectal atresia/stenosis (FR = 2.81; P = 0.03), hallucal polydactyly (FR = 3.62; P = 0.002), heterotaxy (FR = 5.70; P = 0.049), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) (FR = 61.60; P = 0.000000), multicystic dysplastic kidneys (MDK) (FR = 5.13; P = 0.0002), and thymus aplasia/hypoplasia (FR = 29.62; P = 0.000001). The only CA significantly more frequent among infants of women with GDM were HCM (FR = 8.60; P = 0.002) and MDK (FR = 1.80; P = 0.01). Our results suggest that maternal PGDM should be suspected in children with hallucal polydactyly, anorectal atresia/stenosis, heterotaxy, or aplasia/hypoplasia of the thymus. The presence of transient HCM or MDK in a newborn suggests maternal PGDM or GDM. These observations are important in view of the increasing worldwide frequency of DM and the high proportion of individuals with DM in whom the condition remains undiagnosed. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


Subject(s)
Congenital Abnormalities/etiology , Diabetes Complications/diagnosis , Diabetes, Gestational/diagnosis , Obesity/complications , Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis , Adult , Diabetes Complications/epidemiology , Diabetes, Gestational/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/epidemiology , Pregnancy Outcome
12.
Congenit Heart Dis ; 2(4): 224-34, 2007.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18377473

ABSTRACT

Complete heart block, either congenital or acquired, in children and patients with congenital heart disease is a relatively frequent occurrence requiring therapy. The natural history of this condition has been distorted by the advent of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. The therapy of complete heart block is evolving with new data suggesting that traditional treatment strategies utilizing right ventricular apical pacing may have inadvertent deleterious effects on cardiac function. In the following manuscript, the natural history of complete heart block is reviewed and the current therapy examined.


Subject(s)
Cardiology/trends , Heart Block/physiopathology , Heart Block/therapy , Heart Defects, Congenital/complications , Pediatrics/trends , Atrioventricular Block/congenital , Atrioventricular Block/etiology , Atrioventricular Block/therapy , Cardiac Pacing, Artificial/adverse effects , Cardiac Pacing, Artificial/methods , Cardiac Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Heart Block/congenital , Heart Block/epidemiology , Heart Block/etiology , Humans , Incidence
13.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol ; 17(8): 884-9, 2006 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16903967

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Single-site ventricular pacing results in dyssynchronous ventricular activation and may contribute to ventricular dysfunction. We evaluated epicardial biventricular (BiV) pacing as a means of maintaining synchronous ventricular activation in an acute piglet model of AV block with normal ventricular anatomy and function. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used left ventricular (LV) impedance catheters and tissue Doppler imaging to assess the cardiodynamics of immature piglets (n = 6, 33-78 days, 9.35 +/- 0.85 kg). Following catheter ablation of the AV node, a pacemaker was programmed 20 beats per minute above the intrinsic atrial rate. The animals were paced at 5-minute intervals via the following AV sequential configurations: Right atrial appendage (RA)-RV apex (RVA), RA-LV apex (LVA), and RA-biventricular (RVA/LVA). RA-RVA was the experimental control. LV systolic mechanics, measured by the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (E(es)), increased with BiV pacing (12.8 +/- 3.4 mmHg/mL, P < 0.02) or single-site LVA pacing (10.6 +/- 3.4 mmHg/mL, P < 0.05) compared with single-site RVA pacing (8.3 +/- 1.4 mmHg/mL). QRS duration lengthened compared with sinus rhythm (42 +/- 8 msec) with either RVA (56 +/- 9 msec, P < 0.02) or LVA (54 +/- 7 msec, P < 0.03), but not with BiV (48 +/- 7 msec, P = 0.08) pacing. Tissue Doppler imaging showed LV dyssynchrony with RVA (septal-to-lateral delay 46.0 +/- 51.7 msec), with return toward normal with LVA (-9.6 +/- 33.6 msec, P < 0.04) or BiV (-4.1 +/- 33.8 msec, P < 0.04) pacing. CONCLUSIONS: In this acute immature piglet model of AV block, LV performance improved with single-site pacing from the LVA and BiV pacing (RVA/LVA), as compared with single-site pacing from the RVA. These changes correlated with tissue Doppler indices of mechanical synchrony, though not necessarily with QRS duration.


Subject(s)
Cardiac Pacing, Artificial/methods , Disease Models, Animal , Heart Block/therapy , Ventricular Function, Left , Animals , Echocardiography , Elasticity , Electrocardiography , Heart Block/physiopathology , Swine , Systole
14.
Semin Pediatr Neurol ; 12(1): 25-31, 2005 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15929462

ABSTRACT

The annual incidence of sudden cardiac death in young athletes is approximately 1 in 200,000. The most common causes include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy. These genetic disorders typically manifest in the second decade of life and have the potential for sudden death as the first symptom. Medical care providers must be aware of these disease entities when evaluating patients with seizures, syncope, and/or palpitations. The purpose of this article is to describe their genetics, clinical presentation, and diagnosis.


Subject(s)
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/complications , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/complications , Death, Sudden, Cardiac/epidemiology , Death, Sudden, Cardiac/etiology , Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/genetics , Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/pathology , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/genetics , Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic/pathology , Death, Sudden, Cardiac/pathology , Humans
17.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol ; 14(9): 996-1000, 2003 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12950546

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate epicardial biventricular pacing as a means of maintaining synchronous ventricular activation in an acute canine model of AV block with normal ventricular anatomy and function. Chronic single-site ventricular pacing results in dyssynchronous ventricular activation and may contribute to ventricular dysfunction. Biventricular pacing has been used successfully in adult patients with congestive heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was an acute study of open chest mongrel dogs (n = 13). ECG, left ventricular (LV), aortic, and pulmonary arterial pressures were measured. LV impedance catheters were used to assess cardiodynamics using instantaneous LV pressure-volume relations (PVR). Following radiofrequency ablation of the AV node, a temporary pacemaker was programmed 10 beats/min above the intrinsic atrial rate, with an AV interval similar to the baseline intrinsic PR interval. The pacing protocol consisted of 5-minute intervals with the following lead configurations: right atrium-right ventricular apex (RA-RVA), RA-LV apex (LVA), and RA-biventricular using combinations of four ventricular sites (RVA, RV outflow tract [RVOT], LVA, LV base [LVB]). RA-RVA was used as the experimental control. LV systolic mechanics, as measured by the slope of the end-systolic (Ees) PVR (ESPVR, mmHg/cc), was statistically greater (P < 0.05) with all modes of biventricular pacing (RA-RVA/LVA 20.0 +/- 2.9, RA-RVA/LVB 18.4 +/- 2.9, RA-RVOT/LVA 15.1 +/- 1.8, RA-RVOT/LVB 17.6 +/- 2.9) compared to single-site ventricular pacing (RA-RVA 12.8 +/- 1.6). Concurrent with this improvement in myocardial performance was a shortening of the QRS duration (RA-RVA 97.7 +/- 2.9 vs RA-RVA/LVA 75.7 +/- 4.9, RA-RVA/LVB 70.3 +/- 4.9, RA-RVOT/LVA 65.3 +/- 4.4, and RA-RVOT/LVB 76.7 +/- 5.9, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this acute canine model of AV block, QRS duration shortened and LV performance improved with epicardial biventricular pacing compared to standard single-site ventricular pacing.


Subject(s)
Cardiac Pacing, Artificial/methods , Heart Block/physiopathology , Heart/physiopathology , Ventricular Function, Left , Animals , Aorta/physiopathology , Blood Volume , Catheter Ablation , Dogs , Electrocardiography , Heart Block/surgery , Pressure , Pulmonary Artery/physiopathology , Time Factors
18.
Pediatrics ; 111(3): e245-7, 2003 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12612279

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the approach that pediatric electrophysiologists use as they evaluate asymptomatic patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome regarding electrophysiologic testing and radio frequency ablation. METHODS: A 21-question survey was mailed to 66 pediatric electrophysiologists who had voluntarily submitted patient data at any time to the Pediatric Radio Frequency Ablation Registry since its inception in 1990. The survey addressed issues regarding physician experience with electrophysiologic testing and radio frequency ablation, risk assessment, electrophysiology study, and factors that influence the decision to perform radio frequency ablation in asymptomatic patients. RESULTS: Returned surveys (43 of 66 [65%]) were analyzed blindly. The 43 physicians who responded were experienced, with 37 reporting >5 years of performing radio frequency ablation and 30 having performed >200 radio frequency ablation procedures. Thirty-six of the 43 electrophysiologists used invasive electrophysiologic study for risk stratification in asymptomatic patients with WPW. Electrophysiologic findings guided selection of patients for radio frequency ablation procedures. Expected radio frequency ablation outcome quotes to the family were consistent with recently published data from the Electrophysiology Society regarding current-era experience with radio frequency ablation. CONCLUSION: The majority of responding electrophysiologists use invasive electrophysiologic study both to stratify risk for asymptomatic WPW and to select appropriate patients for radio frequency ablation. This current practice should be communicated to other pediatric cardiologists and pediatricians.


Subject(s)
Catheter Ablation/statistics & numerical data , Electrophysiology , Patient Selection , Pediatrics , Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome/surgery , Adolescent , Attitude of Health Personnel , Child , Child, Preschool , Communication , Comorbidity , Death, Sudden, Cardiac/prevention & control , Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac , Heart Arrest/prevention & control , Humans , Infant , Professional-Family Relations , Risk Assessment , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment Outcome , Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome/diagnosis
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