Pediheart: Pediatric Cardiology Today

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 seen? These are amongst the questions reviewed this week with the work's first author, Dr. Robert Martijn Kauling.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2023.131616

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 fruit' for two ventricle palliation? How do early outcomes compare between these two very different approaches? Are we choosing Fontan approaches more commonly because of a perception of greater predictability? Is this true or accurate? Dr. Nicholas Andersen and Dr. Abhay Divekar of UTSW share their deep insights into this fascinating study and approach. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2026.07.021

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 encountering this finding on a fetal scan? Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University, Dr. Michelle Kaplinski shares her deep insights this week. 

DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2025.08.031

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 given the present day levels of surgical experience with neonatal aortic valve surgery? These are amongst the questions posed to Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Vandarbilt University, Dr. George Nicholson who is the senior author of this week's work. 

DOI: 10.1007/s00246-026-04196-1

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, critical care fellow at Lurie Children's Hospital - Northwestern University about a recent work she co-authored on this important and practical topic.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscai.2022.100394