Cardiology

UArizona Steele Children's Research Center pediatric cardiologists are conducting a wide array of clinical research studies to find new and better ways to care for children with heart problems.

Research highlights:

Patients with single ventricle anatomy may respond better to octreotide therapy for chylothorax after congenital heart surgery. 

Aim: Chylothorax (CTX) occurs in 3% to 6% of children after surgery for congenital heart disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Octreotide has been proposed as therapy, but there are no predictors of response. The objective of this study was to identify possible predictors of response to octreotide.
Researcher: Mike Seckeler, MD, MSC
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Outcomes associated with amiodarone and lidocaine in the treatment of in-hospital pediatric cardiac arrest with pulseless ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Resuscitation, March 2014

Aim: To determine the association between amiodarone and lidocaine and outcomes in children with cardiac arrest with pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). Background: Current AHA guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care recommend amiodarone for cardiac arrest in children associated with shock refractory pVT/VF, based on a single pediatric study and extrapolation from adult data.
Researcher: Researcher: Ric Samson, MD
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Resource Utilization for Non-Cardiac Hospital Admissions in Patients With Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease

The researchers examined the difference in cost and outcomes for hospitalization for non-cardiac diagnoses (asthma, RSV, etc.) for children with single ventricle congenital heart disease and compared these to children without any congenital heart disease.
Researchers: Mike Seckeler, MD, MSc; Ian Thomas, MD (resident)

Validation of a Continuous Arterial Pressure Waveform Monitor for use in Congenital Cardiac Catheterization 

We are testing and validating a semi-invasive method to measure cardiac output in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization to improve the hemodynamic data obtained. 
Researchers: Mike Seckeler, MD; Ric Samson, MD; Katri Typpo, MD

Resource Utilization for Non-cardiac Hospital Admissions for Adults with Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease

The researchers examined the difference in cost and outcomes for hospitalization for non-cardiac diagnoses for adults with single ventricle congenital heart disease and compared these to children without any congenital heart disease.
Researchers: Mike Seckeler, MD, MSc; Scott Klewer, MD; Ian Thomas, MD (resident)

Improved Adolescent Pre-Athletic Screening Sensitivity and Specificity with Seattle Criteria-interpreted ECG

They applied an ECG screening criteria for the risk of sudden cardiac death, which had been developed for athletes, to a large, general population of middle school students. 
Researchers: Scott Klewer, MD; Ric Samson, MD; Jamie Columbo, MD (resident)

Application and Utility of iPads in Pediatric Tele-echocardiography

The researchers compared three different methods for reading echocardiograms via telemedicine, including the utility of iPads.
Researchers: Daniela Lax, MD; Mike Seckeler, MD, MSc; Brent Barber, MD; Jamie Colombo, MD (resident)