Comparison of Necrotizing Enterocolitis After Surgical Norwood versus Hybrid Stage 1 Palliation.

Hybrid stage 1 palliation (HS1P) is used as an alternative to the surgical Norwood for single ventricle patients and specific other conditions. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) occurs in 5%-18% of infants after surgical Norwood, contributing to significant morbidity. We sought to compare the NEC incidences in HS1P versus Norwood patients.

The Incidence and Relevance of Hematochezia in the Interstage Congenital Heart Population.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) increases morbidity and mortality for infants with single ventricle heart disease (SVHD). While hematochezia often proceeds NEC not all hematochezia progresses to NEC. We aimed to examine the incidence, risk-factors, and outcomes associated with hematochezia and NEC for infants with SVHD.

Management of Hematochezia in Infants with Congenital Heart Disease Admitted to the Acute Care Cardiology Unit: A Multicenter Retrospective Pilot Study.

Objective: To assess the evaluation and prevalence of benign hematochezia (BH) vs necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) <6 months old admitted to the acute care cardiology unit.

Study Design: This was a multicenter retrospective review of patient characteristics and evaluation of all hematochezia events in patients with CHD <6 months admitted to acute care cardiology unit at 3 high-volume tertiary care centers from February 2019 to January 2021. NEC was defined by the Bell staging criteria.

Feeding Practices in Infants with Hematochezia and Necrotizing Enterocolitis on Acute Care Cardiology Units.

Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for developing both benign hematochezia and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Despite these risks there are very few studies that investigate modifiable risk factors such as feeding practices. It remains unclear what feeding practices should be avoided due to higher incidence of CHD-NEC.

Ensuring No Death Is Ignored: Development of a Hospital Mortality Review and Notification System.

Background And Objectives: Standardized review of mortalities may identify potential system improvements. We designed a hospitalwide identification, review, and notification system for inpatient pediatric mortalities.

Methods: Key stakeholders constructed a future state process map for identification and review of deaths.

Paediatric cardiology training: burnout, fulfilment, and fears.

Background: Burnout is well characterised in physicians and residents but not in paediatric cardiology fellows, and few studies follow burnout longitudinally. Training-specific fears have been described in paediatric cardiology fellows but also have not been studied at multiple time points. This study aimed to measure burnout, training-specific fears, and professional fulfilment in paediatric cardiology fellows with the attention to time of year and year-of-training.

Successful Reduction of Postoperative Chest Tube Duration and Length of Stay After Congenital Heart Surgery: A Multicenter Collaborative Improvement Project.

Background Congenital heart disease practices and outcomes vary significantly across centers, including postoperative chest tube (CT) management, which may impact postoperative length of stay (LOS). We used collaborative learning methods to determine whether centers could adapt and safely implement best practices for CT management, resulting in reduced postoperative CT duration and LOS. Methods and Results Nine pediatric heart centers partnered together through 2 learning networks.

Improving adherence to echocardiogram reporting guidelines in patients with repaired tetralogy of fallot: A quality improvement initiative.

Background: In patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), key echocardiogram report elements have been identified, but poor adherence has been demonstrated, particularly for quantitative assessment. We report a quality improvement effort to improve adherence at our institution, with a focus on increasing quantitative assessment of right ventricular (RV) function.

Methods: Baseline compliance was established by a 3-month retrospective review of outpatient echocardiogram reports.

Collective quality improvement in the paediatric cardiology acute care unit: establishment of the Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative (PAC3).

Collaborative quality improvement and learning networks have amended healthcare quality and value across specialities. Motivated by these successes, the Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative (PAC3) was founded in late 2014 with an emphasis on improving outcomes of paediatric cardiology patients within cardiac acute care units; acute care encompasses all hospital-based inpatient non-intensive care. PAC3 aims to deliver higher quality and greater value care by facilitating the sharing of ideas and building alignment among its member institutions.