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. A secondary measure of success is academic products resulting from fellows' QI/PS work, and future participation in QI/PS efforts. Since 2019, 51 pre-tests and 36 post-tests were completed, showing improvement across all competencies. Fellows have produced one published manuscript, two poster presentations, and two oral presentations describing their improvement work. Additionally, mentoring faculty members have gone on to lead other QI work throughout the division. This longitudinal QI/PS curriculum provides both knowledge and experience in QI/PS work. It also creates opportunities for academic publications and presentations, builds faculty expertise, and most importantly, works to improve multiple aspects of patient care. This curriculum can serve as a model for other cardiology fellowships working to meet CLER requirements.

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. Primary outcome variables were remote care use of telemedicine and patient portal activation. Primary predictor variables were age, sex, insurance, race/ethnicity, language, and location. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze patient demographics. Multivariate logistic regression determined associations with remote care use (p < 0.05). We identified 5,410 established patients with clinic appointments during the identified timeframe. Adopters of telemedicine included 13% of patients (n = 691). Of the prior non patient portal users, 4.5% activated their accounts. On multivariate analysis, older age (10-17 yo) was associated with increased telemedicine (OR 2.04, 95%CI 1.71, 2.43) and patient portal use (OR 1.70, 95%CI 1.33, 2.17). Public insurance (OR 1.66, 95%CI 1.25, 2.20) and Spanish speaking were associated with increased patient portal adoption. Race/ethnicity was not significantly associated with telemedicine use or patient portal adoption. Telehealth adoption among older children may be indicative of their ability to aid in the use of these technologies. Higher participation in patient portal activation among publicly insured and Spanish speaking patients is encouraging and demonstrates ability to navigate some degree of remote patient care. Adoption of remote patient care may assist in reducing access to care disparities.

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. Primary outcome was first SVT recurrence after hospital discharge. Classification and regression tree analysis was performed to determine a risk algorithm. RESULTS: Among 460 infants (62% male), 87% were diagnosed at ≤60 days of age (median 13 days; IQR: 1-31 days). During a median follow-up of 5.2 years (IQR: 1.8-11.2 years), 33% had recurrence. On multivariable analysis, factors associated with recurrence included: fetal or late (>60 days) diagnosis (HR: 1.90; 95% CI: 1.26-2.86; and HR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.07-2.77, respectively), Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome (HR: 2.46; 95% CI: 1.75-3.45), and need for multi-antiarrhythmic or second-line therapy (HR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.45-2.99). Based on the classification and regression tree analysis, WPW incurred the highest risk. Among those without WPW, age at diagnosis was the most important factor predicting risk. Fetal or late diagnosis incurred higher risk, and if multi-antiarrhythmic or second-line therapy was also required, risk nearly doubled. Infants without WPW, who were diagnosed early (0-60 days), and who were discharged on propranolol were at lowest recurrence risk. CONCLUSIONS: Infants with SVT are most likely to be diagnosed at ≤60 days and be male. Risk factors for recurrence (occurred in 33%), present at time of diagnosis, include WPW, fetal or late diagnosis, and multi-antiarrhythmic or second-line therapy. Infants with early diagnosis, without WPW, and discharged on first-line monotherapy are at lowest recurrence risk.

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). We conducted prospective interviews, offered clinic scheduling information, and recorded cardiac follow-up. Data analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariable, and multivariable logistic regression. Of 1053 CHD patients, 33% (n = 349) were actively missing. Of those missing, 58% were male and median age was 17 years (IQR 16-19). Forty-six percent were Non-Hispanic White, 33% Hispanic, and 9% Black. Moderately complex CHD was in 71%, and 62% had private insurance. Patients with simple CHD, older age at last encounter (18-21), and scheduled follow-up > 12 months from last encounter were more likely to be actively missing. Interviews were completed by 125 patients/parents (36%). Lack of cardiac care was reported in 52%, and common barriers included: insurance (33%), appointment scheduling (26%), and unknown ACHD center care (15%). Roughly half (55%) accepted appointment information, yet only 3% successfully returned. Many patients require assistance beyond CHD knowledge to maintain and re-engage in care. Future interventions should include scheduling assistance, focused insurance maintenance, understanding where to obtain ACHD care, and educating on need for lifelong care.

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. Methods: We conducted a prospective quality improvement study to enact a bed-availability triggered bedside handoff process. The primary aim was to reduce the time between handoff and unit transfer. Secondary metrics captured the impact on safety (reported safety events, overnight transfers, bounce backs, and I-PASS utilization), efficiency (transfer latency, unnecessary patient handoffs, and cumulative time providers were engaged in handoffs), and culture (team members perceptions of satisfaction, collaboration, and handoff efficiency via survey data). Results: Eighty-two preimplementation surveys, 26 stakeholder interviews, and 95 transfers were completed during the preintervention period. During the postintervention period, 145 handoffs were audited. We observed significant reductions in transfer latency, unnecessary handoffs, and cumulative provider handoff time. Overnight transfers decreased, and no negative impact was observed in reported safety events or bouncebacks. Survey results showed a positive impact on collaboration, efficiency, and satisfaction among team members. Conclusions: Developing safer handoff practices require a collaborative, structured, and stepwise approach. Advances are attainable in high-volume centers, and comprehensive measurement of change is necessary to ensure a positive impact on the overall patient and provider environment.

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. METHODS: A single-center retrospective review of patients ≤21 years of age diagnosed with HS was performed. RESULTS: A total of 337 patients were included in the study. During median follow-up of 7 years (interquartile range 2-16 years), 129 patients (38%) had ≥1 clinically significant rhythm disturbance: tachyarrhythmias in 75 (22%), bradyarrhythmias in 29 (9%), and both in 25 (7%). Factors associated with tachyarrhythmia by multivariate analysis were at least moderate atrioventricular valve regurgitation (hazard ratio [HR] 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-2.50), single ventricle anatomy (HR 2.30; 95% CI 1.09-4.85), and pulmonary venous obstruction (HR 2.33; 95% CI 1.45-3.76). Isomerism subtype was not associated with tachyarrhythmias. In adjusted and unadjusted analyses, bradyarrhythmias (symptomatic sinus/atrial bradycardia and high-grade or complete heart block) were associated with left atrial isomerism (LAI) compared to right atrial isomerism (HR 7.12; 95% CI 3.01-16.9). The overall transplant-free survival of the cohort was 66%. Tachyarrhythmias, but not bradyarrhythmias, were associated with mortality or need for transplant (HR 2.24; 95% CI 1.45-3.46). CONCLUSION: Clinically significant arrhythmias are common in HS. Although bradyarrhythmias are associated with LAI, tachyarrhythmia occurrence may depend more on hemodynamic and anatomic factors than isomerism subtype. Tachyarrhythmias, but not bradyarrhythmias, are associated with death or need for transplant.

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. ECGs were reviewed for contiguous Q-or T-wave inversions, hypertrophy, bundle branch block, and axis deviation. High-grade ventricular ectopy, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and ventricular tachycardia (VT) were recorded. Patients with <6 months of clinical follow-up were excluded from longitudinal analysis. At diagnosis, 43 (98%) were noted to have electrocardiographic changes. During hospitalization, arrhythmias were seen in 13 patients (30%): 2 (5%) with sustained VT or ventricular fibrillation, 6 (17%) with high-grade ventricular ectopy, and 4 (9%) with SVT. Seven patients (16%) required antiarrhythmic treatment. During outpatient follow-up, arrhythmias were seen in 11 patients. New arrhythmias were documented in 6 without a history of in-hospital arrhythmias. Of 34 patients with at least 6 months follow-up (median 6 years, 0.5 to 20 years), 20 had left ventricular (LV) dysfunction before surgery. Normalization of function occurred in 94% (median 1 year, 5 days to 4 years). Electrocardiographic changes persisted in 94% at the time of LV function recovery. In conclusion, electrocardiographic changes and arrhythmias may persist despite recovery of ventricular function. Therefore, prolonged myocardial remodeling may continue even after resolution of LV dysfunction during which time arrhythmias may occur.