Pediheart: Pediatric Cardiology Today

Latest Episodes:

Pediheart Podcast #391: The "Lone Pines" Of Congenital Cardiology - An Inspiring Tale Of Progress Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

This week we review a recent book entitled Reimagining a Child’s Heart: The Lone Pines of Congenital Cardiology which was recently published by Springer and which was authored by Dr. Thomas J. Kulik and Dr. Macdonald Dick. Drs. Kulik and Dick recount the innumerable steps in discovery that led to what the authors view as one of the pinnacles of achievement in our field, namely the palliation of children with HLHS and single ventricle disease. Dr. Kulik tragically passed suddenly in 2021 but his friend and colleague Dr. Dick completed the book that Dr. Kulik had spent over a decade toiling over. This week we sit down with Dr. Dick and also, briefly, Dr. Roberta Williams and Dr. Kulik's wife Ms. Linda Kulik to discuss the book, Dr. Kulik's legacy, mentorship and more. Dr. Dick also shares with us what he believes are the keys to a successful retirement. This is a rare opportunity to listen to some of the truest pioneers of our field, 'Lone Pines" themselves share their insights and warm stories.
For those interested, this is one of many sites to obtain the book:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/3031886070?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback
Also mentioned in this episode are 2 prior episodes including our conversation with Dr. Michael Freed and our conversation with Ms. Patricia Meisol and links are below:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pediheart-podcast-203-a-conversation-with-dr-michael-freed/id1341472214?i=1000556610155
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pediheart-podcast-320-the-extraordinary-life/id1341472214?i=1000677938143

Pediheart Podcast #390: Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery In Children Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

This week we discuss a recent report from the team at SickKids in Toronto on minimally invasive cardiac surgery. What sorts of operations are most common for this approach? Why are length of ICU and length of hospitalization periods lower in this surgical cohort than more traditional midline sternotomy approaches? How does one train a surgeon to perform these operations if the surgical exposure is so small, allowing only the priimary surgeon to see the majority of the surgery? What are the limits of this sort of surgical approach? These are amongst the questions posed to the first author of this work, Associate Professor of Surgery at University of Toronto, Dr. Christoph Haller.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2025.12.009

Pediheart Podcast #389: How Risky Is Catheterization In The Pediatric Cardiomyopathy Patient Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

This week we review a recent report using data from the IMPACT registry assessing the rates of major adverse events during cath of the pediatric cardiomyopathy patient. How commonly are complications encountered and who is at greatest risk? How much additional risk is incurred by performance of an endomyocardial biopsy at the time of catheterization? Pediatric critical care expert, Dr. Alejandro Martinez Herrada of Nicklaus Children's Hospital provides his insights this week.
doi: 10.1161/JAHA.125.047780.

Pediheart Podcast #388: The Proteomic Signature Of The Adult Fontan Patient Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

This week we delve again into the world of adult congenital heart disease and specifically the realm of biomarkers when we review a recent report of the proteomics of the adult Fontan patient. What is proteomics and how can this inform our understanding of the pathophysiology and adaptive pathways of the Fontan circulation? Are there meaningful differences in the patterns of protein expression between the adult Fontan patient and control 2 ventricle subjects? What might account for differences and how can we understand these differences to explain outcomes in the Fontan adult patient? We speak with the first and senior authors of this week's work, Professor Alexander Opotowsky of the University of Cincinnati and Mr. Ismael Assi who is a Sarnoff Fellow and soon to be 4th year medical student at the University of Cincinnati.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102810

Pediheart Podcast #387: A Conversation With Professor Rica Arnon Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

This week we speak with a true pioneer in pediatric cardiology, Professor Rica Arnon of Mount Sinai in NYC. Dr. Arnon's career has spanned from the mid 1970's right up to the present time where she is still working as a cardiology consultant and educator at Mount Sinai in Pediatrics after more than 50 years. In this episode we learn the travails of a pioneering women in medicine/cardiology as Dr. Arnon shares with us the challenges and triumphs of a career that balanced outstanding clinical excellence with a rich family life. Why did she travel from Israel to the US to train? How did she choose to become a pediatric cardiologist and who were her mentors? What makes a good teacher of cardiology for young learners? What advice can this master of cardiology provide regarding 'balance' in a clinically active life when one is also devoted to their family? What is better in our field today and what does Dr. Arnon believe may have been lost along the way? Dr. Arnon tells it to us 'straight' in a delightful conversation with a master clinician and teacher.
A conversation with Dr. Michael Freed:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pediheart-podcast-replay-of-203-a-conversation/id1341472214?i=1000681074493
A conversation with Dr. Welton Gersony:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pediheart-podcast-247-a-conversation-with-living/id1341472214?i=1000607813461

Pediheart Podcast #386: What Is The "Right" Starting Dose Of Adenosine For SVT In Children? Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

This week we review a recent meta-analysis of studies assessing efficacy of adenosine in children to terminate SVT. Does the PALS recommendation of 100 mcg/kg as a starting dose for SVT management make scientific sense given what we know about the efficacy rates of this dose? Why might inadequate doses be potentially dangerous for children with acute SVT? Is there adequate data to consider changes to the recommended starting dose in this situation? Dose adenosine work well for all forms of tachycardia involving the AV node? Pediatric emergency physician and family medicine physician, Dr. Lais dos Santos of Mossoro', Brazil shares the results of a large scale meta-analysis that she performed and offers some answers to these and other questions.

DOI: 10.1007/s00246-026-04281-5

Pediheart Podcast #385: A Novel More Malignant "Neurocardiac Phenotype" Form of CPVT Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

This week we review a recent report of a novel form of CPVT (catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia) with associated neurodevelopmental delays. What is the genetic basis for these patients? What is different about the arrhyhthmias seen and how they are triggered in this variant? Should all patients with CPVT be screened for neurodevelopmental delays? Should those with neurodevelopmental delays and RYR2 variants be screened for CPVT? Associate Professor of Peditrics at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, Dr. Christina Miyake, shares her deep insights this week.
doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.124.013437

Pediheart Podcast Replay - #284: Pulmonary Artery Band Outcomes In The Present Era Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

This week we go back 2.5 years and delve into the world of cardiovascular surgery when we review a review of STS data on the pulmonary artery band (PAB). The STS assigns a STAT category of 4 to this operation, denoting higher risk for mortality. Is this warranted? Are all PAB candidates equal? What features are associated with higher or lower mortality rates in patients undergoing banding? Should the data in this work drive innovation to avoid the PAB in some settings? These are amongst the questions posed to the senior author of this week's work, cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Tara Karamlou who is Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.
DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.09.020

Pediheart Podcast #384: A Conversation About Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care With Drs. Anthony Rossi and Gil Wernovsky Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

This week we speak with 2 pioneers in the field of pediatric cardiac critical care, Dr. Anthony Rossi and Dr. Gil Wernovsky. Both were present at the very start of the field of cardiac critical care for children. What was it like in an era before transesophageal echocardiography or even postoperative echo? Why was the advent of the bidirectional cavo-pulmonary anastomosis such a game changer in the care of children with heart disease? What do Drs. Rossi and Wernovsky think were the most important improvements to care for children with heart disease in their 35+ year careers? What about care today troubles these intensive care gurus? This is a rare opportunity to speak with two who have seen and done it all in cardiac critical care for children.
For those interested to hear Dr. Rossi speak about goal directed therapy, take a listen to episode 21 and episode 200 of this podcast!

Pediheart Podcast #383: Using Virtual Reality And 3D Modelling For Planning Complex Congenital Heart Surgery May 29, 2026

Show notes

This week we review a recent report from the team at Amrita Institute in Cocchin, India about their use of extended reality and virtual reality as well as heart model printing to aid in planning for complex intracardiac baffles for the treatment of complex congenital heart defects. What was the process used to provide actionable advice in the operating room during surgery? How has the team in southern India created a workflow that can accurately predict this complex anatomy and the patches needed to successfully septate complex hearts? We speak with the director of the 3D imaging group at Amrita, Professor Mahesh Kappanayil about this remarkable achievement of imaging in collaboration with surgery.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2026.03.616

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