Pediheart: Pediatric Cardiology Today

Pediheart: Pediatric Cardiology Today

A review of the latest literature and thought leaders in pediatric cardiovascular care.

Episodes

October 30, 2026 • 79 mins
This week we review a recent work on the topic of female pediatric cardiology division chiefs and leaders and discuss why there is inadequate female representation in our field. What is the difference between mentorship and sponsorship? How can better representation in leadership roles improve divisions and care for children with CHD? We speak with Dr. Dana Gal of USC/Children's Hospital of LA about her work. 

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In this week's episode from 3 years ago we review a Dutch study on 50 year follow-up of patients who had ASD repaired at an average age of 7.5 years. How do these patients compare to their middle aged counterparts who did not have congenital heart surgery? Why might the RA or RV be enlarged in these patients, decades after successful ASD closure? How common are arrhythmias seen in this cohort? How common is pulmonary hypertension s...
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    This week we review a recent report from the team at UTSW comparing early outcomes following biventricular repair vs. Fontan palliation for complex congenital heart disease with borderline ventricles or complex cardiac anatomy that may, in the past, have been immediate triggers for single ventricle palliation. Who is a good candidate for this sort of two ventricle approach and what anatomical types could be viewed as 'low lying fru...
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    This week we delve into the world of fetal cardiology to review a recent work on mild aortic stenosis in fetal life. This is a rare finding and the outcomes of this varied. How commonly does this finding result in severe or critical aortic stenosis? Is there a risk for hypoplastic left heart syndrome? Are there findings that would auger and better or worse outcome for this observation? How should patient families be counseled when ...
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    This week we explore a recent PHIS database study assessing clinical outcomes for transcatheter balloon dilation of the aortic valve in the setting of aortic valve stenosis in early life. Why do critical AS patients fare less well than those with severe AS? Is this an issue of procedural failure or patient characteristics? Is there adequate equipoise for a study comparing surgery to balloon dilation? Is such a study even feasible g...
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    This week we replay an episode from 2022 i which we reviewed a then recent report on the differences between pulse oximeter Sp02 and arterial Sa02. Are there patient specific factors that may result in inaccuracies of measurement? What single ventricular factors may also result in more significant inaccuracies and how should these data be used at the bedside when assessing a child who is cyanosed? We speak with Dr. Cara Pritchett, ...
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    This week we note and mourn the passing of pediatric cardiologist and thought leader Dr. Steven Lipshultz who passed on September 4, 2026. Dr. Lipshultz was one of the most significant cardiologists of the past half century and his contributions to the fields of pediatric cardiomyopathy, HIV cardiomyopathy and cardio-oncology were gigantic and meaningful. This week we turn back the clock and review a landmark work of Dr. Lipshultz ...
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    This week we review a recent work assessing the impact of birth day of the week on neurological outcomes amongst newborns undergoing CHD surgery. Why might certain days of the week be associated with higher degrees of white matter injury in the brain of newborns who have had congenital heart surgery? What are the potential mechanisms for this? What might be the unintended consequences of ‘controlling’ birth day of the w...
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    This week we take a step back in time 4 years ago to recall when we spoke with noted cardiovascular surgeon Dr. John J. Lamberti who is Associate Professor of Surgery at Stanford University. Dr. Lamberti's career has spanned from the time of Dr. Robert Gross in the 1960's to present day with Dr. Frank Hanley and the team in Stanford. His career perfectly mirrors the transition from the 'old days' of cardiac surgery up until the pre...
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    This week we review the use of right axillary artery access for aortic valvuloplasty in infants. Why would this approach potentially offer advantages versus the more traditional femoral or even carotid approach? What are the particular dangers of this approach? How should the interventionist pick the approach when planning an aortic valvuloplasty in an infant with valvar aortic stenosis? We speak with Dr. Jameel Al-Ata of King...
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    This week we speak with Ms. Sharon Welsh BSN, RN about a novel project she has embarked upon called CLEAR CHD PHYSIOLOGY (on Instagram chdphysiology.icu) which is a physiology-based site intended to teach bedside critical care nurses about CHD physiology. What signs or symptoms are important and what is their meaning? Why is nursing at the bedside of a sick postoperative newborn so much more difficult than it was at the start of Ms...
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    This week we speak with Dr. Ted O'Leary, Co-Director of Adult Congenital Heart Disease Electrophysiology at Boston Children's Hospital about a recent publication he authored on the use of pulsed field ablation (PFA) for the transcatheter ablation management of complex atrial arrhythmias in ACHD patients. How does PFA work and what are some of the potential advantages and disadvantages of this novel ablation energy technology? What ...
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    This week’s replay episode reviews the notion of the underrepresented in medicine physician and the decision to pursue pediatric cardiology. How would improved representation amongst the congenital heart work force result in better outcomes for patients? How does a diverse workforce foster improved communication with patients? What are some practical steps that can be employed to improve representation in the field? We speak ...
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    This week we review a recent book entitled Reimagining a Child’s Heart: The Lone Pines of Congenital Cardiology which was recently published by Springer and which was authored by Dr. Thomas J. Kulik and Dr. Macdonald Dick. Drs. Kulik and Dick recount the innumerable steps in discovery that led to what the authors view as one of the pinnacles of achievement in our field, namely the palliation of children with HLHS and single v...
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    This week we discuss a recent report from the team at SickKids in Toronto on minimally invasive cardiac surgery. What sorts of operations are most common for this approach? Why are length of ICU and length of hospitalization periods lower in this surgical cohort than more traditional midline sternotomy approaches? How does one train a surgeon to perform these operations if the surgical exposure is so small, allowing only the priima...
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    This week we review a recent report using data from the IMPACT registry assessing the rates of major adverse events during cath of the pediatric cardiomyopathy patient. How commonly are complications encountered and who is at greatest risk? How much additional risk is incurred by performance of an endomyocardial biopsy at the time of catheterization? Pediatric critical care expert, Dr. Alejandro Martinez Herrada of Nicklaus Childre...
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    This week we delve again into the world of adult congenital heart disease and specifically the realm of biomarkers when we review a recent report of the proteomics of the adult Fontan patient. What is proteomics and how can this inform our understanding of the pathophysiology and adaptive pathways of the Fontan circulation? Are there meaningful differences in the patterns of protein expression between the adult Fontan patient and c...
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    This week we speak with a true pioneer in pediatric cardiology, Professor Rica Arnon of Mount Sinai in NYC. Dr. Arnon's career has spanned from the mid 1970's right up to the present time where she is still working as a cardiology consultant and educator at Mount Sinai in Pediatrics after more than 50 years. In this episode we learn the travails of a pioneering women in medicine/cardiology as Dr. Arnon shares with us the challenges...
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    This week we review a recent meta-analysis of studies assessing efficacy of adenosine in children to terminate SVT. Does the PALS recommendation of 100 mcg/kg as a starting dose for SVT management make scientific sense given what we know about the efficacy rates of this dose? Why might inadequate doses be potentially dangerous for children with acute SVT? Is there adequate data to consider changes to the recommended starting dose i...
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    This week we review a recent report of a novel form of CPVT (catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia) with associated neurodevelopmental delays. What is the genetic basis for these patients? What is different about the arrhyhthmias seen and how they are triggered in this variant? Should all patients with CPVT be screened for neurodevelopmental delays? Should those with neurodevelopmental delays and RYR2 variants be sc...
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