Congenital heart disease
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Congenital heart disease · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialEmbedding patient simulation in a pediatric cardiology rotation: a unique opportunity for improving resident education.
High-fidelity patient simulation (HFPS) has been used in medical education to bridge gaps in medical knowledge and clinical skills. Few studies have analyzed the impact of HFPS in subspecialty rotations for pediatric residents. We hypothesized that pediatric residents exposed to HFPS with a structured content curriculum would perform better on a case quiz than residents without exposure to HFPS. ⋯ Incorporation of HFPS into a preexisting pediatric cardiology rotation was feasible and well received. Our study suggests that simulation promotes increased confidence and may modestly improve clinical reasoning compared to traditional educational techniques. Targeted simulation sessions may readily be incorporated into pediatric subspecialty rotations.
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Congenital heart disease · Jan 2015
Clinical TrialEfficacy of endothelin blockade in adults with Fontan physiology.
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors have shown to improve cardiac output and functional capacity in Fontan patients. We sought to test the efficacy and safety of endothelin blockade with bosentan in adult patients with Fontan physiology. ⋯ In this cohort of adult patients with Fontan physiology, endothelin blockade with bosentan resulted in improved 6MWD and MRI-derived resting cardiac output, suggesting a positive effect on pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary blood flow. Bosentan was well tolerated and hepatic function was not adversely affected.
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Congenital heart disease · Jan 2015
High resource use among adult congenital heart surgery admissions in adult hospitals: risk factors and association with death and comorbidities.
Adult hospitals are a common location of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) admissions, including cardiac surgical admissions. Understanding the patterns and predictors of resource use could aid these institutions by identifying and targeting potentially modifiable determinants of high resource use (HRU). Our objectives were to examine resource use during adult congenital heart surgical admissions in adult hospitals, determine the association of HRU with mortality, and identify risk factors for HRU. ⋯ HRU admissions for adult congenital heart surgery consumed a disproportionate amount of resources and were associated with higher mortality. HRU risk factors included nonelective admissions, government insurance, heart failure, surgical complexity, renal failure, and complications. Complications, if preventable, may be a target for improvement strategies to decrease resource use. Other risk factors may require a broader patient care approach.
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Congenital heart disease · Jan 2015
Factors contributing to adverse perioperative events in adults with congenital heart disease: a structured analysis of cases from the closed claims project.
Prior investigations have suggested that the rapidly growing population of adults with congenital heart disease is at increased risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality, but information is limited on the nature of those perioperative factors that may relate to adverse outcomes. We sought to use a national claims database to describe the contribution of perioperative factors to adverse outcomes and compare contributing factors in cardiac vs. noncardiac operations. ⋯ Within the limitations of a small number of events in a claims-based database, this study offers advantages of being a national, structured analysis of real cases to provide detailed information on phenomena that are otherwise abstract and hypothesized by expert opinion. These results should help affirm the role of anesthesiologists in acquiring and executing expertise as consultants in perioperative medicine for adults with congenital heart disease patients.
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Congenital heart disease · Jan 2015
Outcomes of tracheostomy following congenital heart surgery: a contemporary experience.
Following congenital heart surgery, pediatric patients may experience persistent respiratory failure that requires tracheostomy placement. Currently, definitive knowledge of the optimal timing for tracheostomy placement in this patient population is lacking. ⋯ The timing of tracheostomy placement may be an important factor in clinical outcomes for pediatric patients with persistent dependence on mechanical ventilatory support following congenital heart surgery. A larger, multi-institution study may help further elucidate our observed clinical findings in this patient population.