Efficacy of a Longitudinal Project-Based Quality Improvement Curriculum in Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship.

Quality improvement knowledge is a requirement of fellowship training. Our goal was to evaluate the efficacy of a 3-year quality improvement and patient safety (QI/PS) curriculum that gives fellows both didactic knowledge and first-hand experience with improvement science, and meets Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER) requirements. Knowledge assessment is obtained through pre- and post-surveys.

Remote Care Adoption in Underserved Congenital Heart Disease Patients During the COVID-19 Era.

The COVID-19 pandemic restricted in-person appointments and prompted an increase in remote healthcare delivery. Our goal was to assess access to remote care for complex pediatric cardiology patients. We performed a retrospective chart review of Texas Children's Hospital (TCH) pediatric cardiology outpatient appointments from March 2020 to December 2020 for established congenital heart disease (CHD) patients 1 to 17 yo.

Clinical Predictors of Recurrent Supraventricular Tachycardia in Infancy.

Background: Data regarding recurrence risk among infants with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) are limited.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine incidence and factors associated with SVT recurrence.

Methods: This was a retrospective single-center study (1984-2020) with prospective phone follow-up of infants with structurally normal hearts diagnosed at age ≤1 year with re-entrant SVT.

Comprehensive Improvement of Cardiology Inpatient Transfers: A Bed-availability Triggered Approach.

Introduction: Patient transfers pose a potential risk during hospitalizations. Structured communication practices are necessary to ensure effective handoffs, but occur amidst competing priorities and constraints. We sought to design and implement a multidisciplinary process to enhance communication between pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit and cardiology floor teams with a comprehensive approach evaluating efficiency, safety, and culture.

Hope is No Plan: Uncovering Actively Missing Transition-Aged Youth with Congenital Heart Disease.

Studies describing gaps in care for youth with congenital heart disease (CHD), focus on those who have returned to care, but rarely those actively missing from care. Our objective was to determine barriers for young adults with CHD actively missing from cardiac care and to re-engage them in care. Retrospective single-center cohort study of cardiology clinic patients ages 15-21 years with CHD between 2012 and 2019 for patients actively missing from care (≥ 12 months beyond requested clinic follow-up).

Heterotaxy syndrome and associated arrhythmias in pediatric patients.

Background: Heterotaxy syndrome (HS) is a rare disorder with complex anatomy involving misarrangements of the cardiac conduction system. Arrhythmias may be related to anatomic variations and contribute to morbidity.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between arrhythmias, anatomy, and outcomes in a large HS cohort.

Follow-Up of Electrocardiographic Findings and Arrhythmias in Patients With Anomalously Arising Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Trunk.

Follow-up data and correlation of arrhythmias, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, and cardiac function in anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk or artery have not been previously studied. This is a retrospective single-center review of 44 anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk or artery patients diagnosed between 1992 and 2014, at a median age of 3 months (3 days to 13 years). Clinical history, ECG, Holter, and echocardiogram data were reviewed.