CanCHD Study of Hematopoietic Cancers in Children With and Without Genetic Syndromes.

Background: Individuals with genetic syndromes can manifest both congenital heart disease (CHD) and cancer attributable to possible common underlying pathways. To date, reliable risk estimates of hematopoietic cancer (HC) among children with CHD based on large population-based data remain scant. This study sought to quantify the risk of HC by the presence of genetic syndrome among children with CHD.

Derivation and validation of a clinical decision rule to risk-stratify COVID-19 patients discharged from the emergency department: The CCEDRRN COVID discharge score.

Objective: To risk-stratify COVID-19 patients being considered for discharge from the emergency department (ED).

Methods: We conducted an observational study to derive and validate a clinical decision rule to identify COVID-19 patients at risk for hospital admission or death within 72 hours of ED discharge. We used data from 49 sites in the Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department Rapid Response Network (CCEDRRN) between March 1, 2020, and September 8, 2021.

Quantifying unused opioids following emergency and ambulatory care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To quantify unused opioids among adult and pediatric patients discharged from the emergency department (ED) or ambulatory care settings with a prescription for acute pain.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINHAL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and the gray literature from inception to April 29, 2021. We included observational studies in which any patient with an acutely painful condition received a prescription for an opioid on discharge from an outpatient care setting, and unused opioids were quantified.

Using natural language processing to compare task-specific verbal cues in coached versus noncoached cardiac arrest teams during simulated pediatrics resuscitation.

Objectives: Coaches improve cardiopulmonary (CPR) outcomes in real-world and simulated settings. To explore verbal feedback that targets CPR quality, we used natural language processing (NLP) methodologies on transcripts from a published pediatric randomized trial (coach vs. no coach in simulated CPR).

Quality of life in adolescents with heavy menstrual bleeding: Validation of the Adolescent Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire (aMBQ).

Background/objectives: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) affects 34% to 37% of adolescent girls. The Menstrual Bleeding Questionnaire (MBQ) is a validated measure of menstrual bleeding-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for women aged ≥18 years. No similar measure existed for adolescents with HMB.

Sustained Inflation During Chest Compression: A New Technique of Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation That Improves Recovery and Survival in a Pediatric Porcine Model.

Background Chest compression (CC) during sustained inflations (CC+SI) compared with CC with asynchronized ventilation (CCaV) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in asphyxiated pediatric piglets will reduce time to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Methods and Results Piglets (20-23 days of age, weighing 6.2-10.

Procedural Skills Training in Emergency Medicine Physicians Within the Edmonton Zone: A Needs Assessment.

Objectives: The objectives were to describe the current procedural skill practices, attitudes toward procedural skill competency, and the role for educational skills training sessions among emergency medicine (EM) physicians within a geographic health zone.

Methods: This is a multicenter descriptive cross-sectional survey of all EM physicians working at 12 emergency departments (EDs) within the Edmonton Zone in 2019. Survey items addressed current procedural skill performance frequency; perceived importance and confidence; current methods to maintain competence; barriers and facilitating factors to participation in a curriculum; preferred teaching methods; and desired frequency of practice for each procedural skill.

Change of Health-Related Quality of Life Over Time and Its Association With Patient Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure.

Background Improving health-related quality of life is an important goal in the management of patients with heart failure (HF). Defining health-related quality of life changes over time in patients with HF with preserved (HFpEF) or reduced ejection fraction and showing their association with other important clinical events could support the use of health-related quality of life as a measure of quantifying HF care. Methods and Results In the Alberta HEART (Heart Failure Aetiology and Analysis Team) cohort (n=621), patients were categorized into 4 subgroups: healthy controls (n=98), at risk (n=163), HFpEF (n=191), and HF with reduced ejection fraction (n=169).

Pre-school neurocognitive and functional outcomes after liver transplant in children with early onset urea cycle disorders, maple syrup urine disease, and propionic acidemia: An inception cohort matched-comparison study.

Background: Urea cycle disorders (UCD) and organic acid disorders classically present in the neonatal period. In those who survive, developmental delay is common with continued risk of regression. Liver transplantation improves the biochemical abnormality and patient survival is good.

Survival, Neurocognitive, and Functional Outcomes After Completion of Staged Surgical Palliation in a Cohort of Patients With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

Background Management of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome has benefited from advancements in medical and surgical care. Outcomes have improved, although survival and long-term functional and cognitive deficits remain a concern. Methods and Results This is a cohort study of all consecutive patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome undergoing surgical palliation at a single center.

Statins Reduce Epicardial Adipose Tissue Attenuation Independent of Lipid Lowering: A Potential Pleiotropic Effect.

Background High epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) attenuation (Hounsfield units [ HUs] ) on computed tomography is considered a marker of inflammation and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Statins reduce the volume of EAT , but it is unknown whether they affect EAT HUs . Methods and Results We reviewed the chest computed tomographic scans of 420 postmenopausal women randomized to either 80 mg of atorvastatin or 40 mg of pravastatin daily and rescanned after 1 year to measure change in coronary artery calcium score.