Pediheart: Pediatric Cardiology Today

This week we review a recent report that asks the question, 'Do all infants who present with SVT require preventive anti-arrhythmic medical therapy?' Who might be a candidate for not using an anti-arrhythmia medication in infancy? What sort of parental education is needed to potentially not use medicine and how do patients not treated compare to those who were treated with anti-arrhythmics in regards to re-admission or presentation to the emergency department or development of tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy? How should parents assess their infants for SVT at home? How long should infants be monitored prior to discharge to home after a single uncomplicated episode of SVT? We speak with Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Washington University and the first author of this week's work, Dr. Anthony Pompa. DOI: 10.1007/s00246-023-03263-1

This week we review a recent large scale, multicenter adult congenital heart study on outcomes of HLHS Fontan patients versus other single RV Fontan patients. How do the two groups compare in regards to thromboembolic risk, risk for arrhythmia or risk for death and heart transplantation? Why might there be differences between these single RV patient groups? How can these results inform management? We speak with Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at The Icahn School of Medicine at  Mount Sinai, ACHD expert Dr. Kali Hopkins. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.034757. Epub 2024 Nov 27

This week to conclude 2024 we speak with noted investment expert Mr. Paul Merriman to discuss a few topics related to personal finance and investing. First we tackle the notion of having 'enough' to retire. Is there a magic value and how would one think about this? Why is an S&P 500 Index or Total US Stock Market Index a fine 'core' investment and how might one possibly improve upon its performance? What are some of the psychological hurdles we have as investors and potential retirees? Mr. Merriman reviews these and other topics on our end of year episode. Wishing all a happy and healthy new year to you and your families and loved ones. Paul Merriman's Website: https://www.paulmerriman.comPaul's "Quilt" Chart: https://www.paulmerriman.com/12-hidden-lessons-from-investment-history#gsc.tab=0Paul's "Bootcamp" page: https://www.paulmerriman.com/bootcampLast Year's episode of Pediheart was replayed on Mr. Merriman's site: https://www.paulmerriman.com/pediheart-podcast-279-asset-allocation-in-your-retirement-accounts#gsc.tab=0Paul's book "We're Talking Millions": https://www.paulmerriman.com/free-books#gsc.tab=0

This week we replay episode #203 with Professor Michael Freed of Harvard University, who died this past week. In this episode from 2022 we review his seminal paper on prostaglandin for the treatment of infants with critical congenital heart disease from 1981 and then speak with Dr. Freed about his life, career, the development of PGE1 and more in this wide-ranging interview with this pediatric cardiology pioneer. Dr. Freed shares important career advice as he would to cardiology fellows during his long and illustrious career, advising and shaping the careers of pediatric cardiologists for 5 decades. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.64.5.899.