Pediheart: Pediatric Cardiology Today

This week we review a recent Australian prospective assessment of aspirin resistance in children undergoing heart surgery. How common is this seen in this patient group and what are the reasons? What is the best test to perform to assess this and what tests may not be worthwile? Who deserves 'routine' testing for this possible problem? Cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Supreet Marathe of Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane, Australia shares the results of this recent publication. 

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2025.09.013

This week we speak with Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Audrey Dionne about a recent work she co-authored on sinus node dysfunction following congenital heart surgery. How common was this encountered and how often were either temporary or permanent pacing needed? Are there certain surgeries that are more associated with the need for pacing after surgery? Why is this so common following heart surgery? Dr. Dionne shares her deep knowledge this week on this surprisingly common problem.  
DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.01.049

In this compelling lecture by Dr. David Winlaw of Northwestern University, we hear his thoughts on the state of the CICU/Surgeon relationship and he offers his thoughts on how to improve care for children with congenital heart disease undergoing surgery. Why does he believe that the more old fashioned approach of having cardiac programs run by academic departments is no longer optimal? What do critical care doctors not understand about surgery and vice versa? Are we asking too much of our CICU practitioners? How can the 'shift work' mentality be abolished and how can we avoid burnout for our critical care front line staff while also improving outcomes for patients? How can we bring joy back into the care of children with critical heart disease? Dr. Winlaw shares his insights from a long career in multiple centers worldwide in the Thomas J. Spray Lecture at the Cardiology 2026 CHOP conference from late February, 2026 in Arizona.

This week we sit down and speak with noted non-invasive imaging expert Dr. Kelly Han of U. Utah about a recent work she co-authored on recommendations for the development of a congenital heart CCT program. What are the absolute essentials when considering offering these services in a center? How do different scanners differ from one another and how important is it to have single vs. dual source CT? Can good work be performed on 'older' machines? Who are the most important team members for a congenital CT team? Dr. Han shares her thoughts as well as the ideas of many of the thought leaders who co-authored this important statement paper. 

DOI: 10.1016/j.jcct.2025.01.003

This week we listen in to a recent presentation by congenital heart nursing pioneer Ms. Gwen Fosse BSN MSA RN FAHA. Ms. Fosse is a pediatric cardiovascular nursing specialist at Mott Children's Hospital at U. Michigan and has literally done and seen it all over the past 50 years in congenital heart nursing. In this presentation from the CHOP Cardiology 2026 meeting Ms. Fosse shares with us her impressions from a career that spans multiple decades and advances in the field. This presentation was the 26th Annual Thomas Garrett Rauch Memorial Lecture in Nursing at this esteemed conference.