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Clinical Updates

Behavioral Intervention Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Undergoing Epilepsy Evaluation: Increasing Phase 1 Monitoring Rates
 Behavioral Intervention Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Undergoing Epilepsy Evaluation: Increasing Phase 1 Monitoring Rates 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

A behavioral intervention program that started as a quality improvement project evolved to a new standard of care — increasing access and compliance with Phase 1 monitoring for children with intractable epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder. A recent study led by Mary Wojnaroski, PhD, a psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, reported a sustained, multi-year increase…

Cardiometabolic Screening Gaps in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease
 Cardiometabolic Screening Gaps in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Retrospective review reveals inconsistent HbA1c screening in eligible patients. Pediatric cardiology has achieved remarkable gains in survival for children with congenital heart disease. However, as more patients reach adolescence and adulthood, they are at risk for experiencing acquired cardiovascular and cardiometabolic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Little is known about how consistently clinicians identify…

Advancing Surgical Care for Pediatric Hip Dysplasia
 Advancing Surgical Care for Pediatric Hip Dysplasia 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A novel technique demonstrates safety, stability and reduced casting needs. For children with developmental dysplasia of the hip, open reduction surgery reliably restores the hip to the socket. However, recurrent instability, iatrogenic complications, residual dysplasia and prolonged casting can limit favorable outcomes. To improve these results, orthopedic surgeons at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have developed a…

Long-Term Kidney Complications Are Common Among Pediatric and Young Adult Cancer Survivors
 Long-Term Kidney Complications Are Common Among Pediatric and Young Adult Cancer Survivors 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Study reveals the need for improved surveillance and updated survivorship guidelines. As pediatric cancer survival rates continue to climb, focus is shifting to enhancing the long-term health of survivors. While treatments have become more precise, their delayed effects are not yet fully understood. A new study led by Diana Zepeda-Orozco, MD, principal investigator in the…

Watchful Waiting: The New Recommendation for Most Preterm Infants With PDA
 Watchful Waiting: The New Recommendation for Most Preterm Infants With PDA 1024 683 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

A study published in JAMA found that treating patent ductus arteriosus with medication did not help with disease management but was associated with higher mortality.   A new study from the Neonatal Research Network, published in JAMA, found that treating patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen at…

3 Things to Know About Glomerular Disease
 3 Things to Know About Glomerular Disease 1024 683 Gina Vitale, PTA
By: Gina Vitale, PTA

Gabriel Cara Fuentes, MD, PhD, offers insights for physicians regarding pediatric glomerular disease treatment and referral. Gabriel Cara Fuentes, MD, PhD, a pediatric nephrologist and principal investigator at the Kidney and Urinary Tract Research Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, is focused on a translational approach to improving pediatric care and outcomes. Since arriving at Nationwide…

Expanding the Evidence for Cannabidiol in Focal Epilepsy
 Expanding the Evidence for Cannabidiol in Focal Epilepsy 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Young boy turned sideways in front of a dark background, with dark lighting and an illustration of his brain appearing in front of the side of his head

A multicenter study led by Nationwide Children’s Hospital demonstrates long-term efficacy and safety of Epidiolex® for treatment-resistant seizures. As global use of cannabidiol for seizure management increases, most research has targeted generalized epilepsy. This leaves a major evidence gap for patients with focal seizures and epilepsy. Anup D. Patel, MD, FAAN, FAES, FCNS, neurologist and…

Bringing Behavioral Health Into the Medical Home
 Bringing Behavioral Health Into the Medical Home 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Scaling integrated care across community pediatrics increases access to and utilization of mental health care. When a teenage patient shared feelings of anxiety and depression during a routine wellness visit, the pediatrician immediately called in the behavioral health clinician down the hall. Within minutes, both providers met with the patient and family. They left with…

Rethinking Neonatal HSV Management: A Less Aggressive, Evidence-Informed Approach
 Rethinking Neonatal HSV Management: A Less Aggressive, Evidence-Informed Approach 1024 593 Alaina Doklovic
By: Alaina Doklovic

An alternative approach to neonatal HSV management helps keep mom and baby together during the nursery stay.  Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection (HSV) is a rare but often fatal disease when not treated correctly or in a timely manner. This makes diagnosis and preventive strategies extremely important when expectant mothers have active genital HSV infection when they deliver.   Neonatal HSV is a result of vertical transmission from mother to newborn and most…

Kids With GPA Often Show Lung Signs — But Few See Pulmonologists
 Kids With GPA Often Show Lung Signs — But Few See Pulmonologists 1024 683 Jessica Nye, PhD
By: Jessica Nye, PhD

Most patients with pediatric granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) have respiratory manifestations, but fewer than half are evaluated by a pulmonologist within 6 months of diagnosis, finds a study published in Pediatric Pulmonology.   “Pediatric GPA is a very rare autoimmune rheumatologic disorder that can have significant impact on the lungs. But nobody has really described the…

Rethinking Routine Kidney Ultrasounds in Children With Mild Anorectal Malformations
 Rethinking Routine Kidney Ultrasounds in Children With Mild Anorectal Malformations 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Molly Fuchs, MD

  Annual scans rarely identify new kidney concerns in symptom-free children. Children born with anorectal malformations (ARMs), a group of congenital conditions affecting the anus and rectum, are routinely screened for kidney abnormalities because of the association between ARM and urinary tract anomalies. The likelihood of urologic complications  increases with the complexity of the malformation.…

Challenges in Medication Titration in Children with Heart Failure
 Challenges in Medication Titration in Children with Heart Failure 1024 537 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Beyond the guidelines: implementing consensus-based care for complex patients. Pediatric heart failure is a complex clinical diagnosis, with a growing body of evidence to suggest there are critical differences between pediatric and adult heart failure. In a recent review published in JHLT Open, Jessie Yester, MD, PhD and Deipanjan Nandi, MD highlight the unique challenges…

Defining Urinary Tract Infection: Why Standardization Matters for Research and Care
 Defining Urinary Tract Infection: Why Standardization Matters for Research and Care 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide, affecting an estimated 150 million people annually and costing more than $5 billion in the United States alone. However, despite their prevalence, there is still no universally accepted definition of what constitutes a UTI. This lack of clarity complicates both research and…

What Clinicians Need to Know About RSV Prevention
 What Clinicians Need to Know About RSV Prevention 1024 609 Jason Newland, MD, MEd
By: Jason Newland, MD, MEd

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects the nose, throat and lungs, causing mild cold-like symptoms (upper respiratory infection) for most children and adults. However, in high-risk populations, including infants, children with chronic conditions, and older adults, it can be quite severe — ultimately leading to hospitalization or death. For infants, RSV is the primary cause of…

Food-Based Tube Feeding: Balancing Parental Demand With Pediatric Nutrition Science
 Food-Based Tube Feeding: Balancing Parental Demand With Pediatric Nutrition Science 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Color image of enteral complete liquid nutritional products of several brands

New research from Nationwide Children’s reveals significant differences in nutrient adequacy across commercial food-based formulas. In the last two decades, enteral nutrition has undergone a significant transformation. Fifteen to 20 years ago, pediatric patients requiring gastrostomy tube feeding had only one option: synthetic, cow milk-based formulas designed to meet caloric and macronutrient needs but containing…

Guiding the Treatment of Ballistic Fractures: A New Report Offers Education and Support for Orthopedic Surgeons
 Guiding the Treatment of Ballistic Fractures: A New Report Offers Education and Support for Orthopedic Surgeons 1024 657 Alaina Doklovic
By: Alaina Doklovic

Despite firearm injury incidence and severity in children, no guidelines for orthopedic surgeons existed – until now. Firearm-related injury is the leading cause of death in the United States among children and adolescents aged 1 to 19. Despite this alarming statistic, there were no current or up-to-date general guidelines for orthopedic surgeons on the management…

Parents’ Perceptions Highlight Gaps in Supporting Children with Epilepsy in School
 Parents’ Perceptions Highlight Gaps in Supporting Children with Epilepsy in School 1024 579 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Discussions with parents of children with epilepsy revealed concerning gaps in school-based seizure education and care, underscoring the need for better lines of communication between medical teams, school personnel, and the children’s families.   A qualitative study led by Mary Kay Irwin, EdD, and Anup Patel, MD, FAAN, FAES, FCNS, at Nationwide Children’s Hospital reported…

Closing the Treatment Gap: Opioid Use Disorder Medications in Adolescents and Young Adults
 Closing the Treatment Gap: Opioid Use Disorder Medications in Adolescents and Young Adults 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
silhouette girl portrait

Findings from the PROUD trial highlight the need for youth-centered prescription strategies in primary care. Adolescents and young adults are far less likely than older adults to receive evidence-based medications for opioid use disorder (OUD), even though buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone are recommended treatments. Despite their effectiveness, these therapies remain consistently underutilized in youth. To…

Advances in the Care of Patients With Chest Wall Deformities
 Advances in the Care of Patients With Chest Wall Deformities 1024 683 Sara Mansfield, MD
By: Sara Mansfield, MD

Every year Nationwide Children’s Hospital sees several hundred children and adolescents with chest wall deformities. Common Chest Wall Conditions Two of the most common chest wall diagnoses are pectus excavatum (sunken chest) and pectus carinatum (pigeon chest).  These conditions can cause a variety of symptoms, and for many children the physical appearance can be a…

LaCrosse Virus: What You Need to Know
 LaCrosse Virus: What You Need to Know 1024 586 Christopher Ouellette, MD
By: Christopher Ouellette, MD

La Crosse virus (LACV) is a mosquito-borne illness primarily found in the upper Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and southeastern United States. This virus is spread mostly through the bite of the eastern treehole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus, and over the past 20+ years, more cases have been seen in Ohio compared to other regions of the United States.…

Enhanced IV Line Clamp: A New Spin on a Classic
 Enhanced IV Line Clamp: A New Spin on a Classic 1024 683 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
Close-up of newly designed IV line clamps that improve patient safety and usability in hospitals by providing secure, easy-to-adjust flow control for intravenous therapy.

Revolutionizing patient care through human-centered design The IV line clamp is a long-standing technology used to deliver intravenous medications and fluids. For over 90 years, the simplistic, gravity-based design has remained unchanged, despite the growing complexity of patient care and significant advancements in medical technology. Enter Jenna Merandi, PharmD, MS, CCPS, medication safety officer, and…

Assessing the Clinical Utility of a Fetal Echocardiogram When a Sibling Has Congenital Heart Disease
 Assessing the Clinical Utility of a Fetal Echocardiogram When a Sibling Has Congenital Heart Disease 1024 695 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
Pregnant woman smiling and holding her belly while awaiting a fetal echocardiogram to check her baby’s heart health during pregnancy.

A fetal echocardiogram when a sibling has congenital heart disease may not be clinically necessary if the fetus has a normal second-trimester level II ultrasound. A retrospective study led by Kacy Taylor, MSAH, RDCS, FASE, concluded that critical congenital heart disease (CHD) was not missed when a level two ultrasound (LII-US) was normal in a…

Real-Life Impact of ETI Therapy in Cystic Fibrosis: Insights From a Large Treatment Center
 Real-Life Impact of ETI Therapy in Cystic Fibrosis: Insights From a Large Treatment Center 706 470 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Greater clinical gains observed in patients with severe lung disease, regardless of genotype. A recent prospective observational study led by Shahid I. Sheikh, MD, pediatric pulmonologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, offers insights into the effectiveness of a new medication for adolescents and adults…

Streamlining Autism Diagnosis: How Electronic Health Record Tools Increased Early Identification and Referrals in a Primary Care Network
 Streamlining Autism Diagnosis: How Electronic Health Record Tools Increased Early Identification and Referrals in a Primary Care Network 1024 575 Erin Gregory
By: Erin Gregory
Toddler playing with toys

In their recent publication, Boosting Autism Screening and Referrals with EHR-Integrated Tools at Well-Child Visits, Elizabeth W. Barnhardt, DO, MAEd, developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and her team describe a quality improvement initiative designed to improve the early identification of autism spectrum disorder…

Assessing Sleep Disturbances Across the Lifespan in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
 Assessing Sleep Disturbances Across the Lifespan in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
physicians in white coats looking at a tablet

Pilot study supports the use of sleep questionnaires to identify underrecognized symptoms in children and adults with DM1. Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is a genetic, multisystemic neuromuscular disorder that affects skeletal muscle, cardiac function, the endocrine system and the central nervous system. In addition to myotonia (the inability to relax muscles) and progressive muscle…

How One Role is Improving Emergency Department Wait Times
 How One Role is Improving Emergency Department Wait Times 150 150 Alaina Doklovic
By: Alaina Doklovic

In any emergency department (ED), many people work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly so patients receive the care they need, when they need it. At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, one behind-the-scenes position is making a big impact: the triage coordinator. “The role of triage coordinator and the way it works is unique here…

Cystic Fibrosis: Screening, Diagnosis and Therapy
 Cystic Fibrosis: Screening, Diagnosis and Therapy 1024 522 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Healthcare, pediatrician and child heart doctor with a patient at hospital, exam on chest with a stethoscope. Black girl smile at pediatric surgeon, talking to a friendly, caring physician she trust.

Since the implementation of universal newborn screening for cystic fibrosis in all states by 2010, the expectation has been that every child with cystic fibrosis would be identified early and benefit from life-extending treatments. The reality, however, is more complex. “Because of the complexities of the genetic causes of cystic fibrosis and significant variations in…

New Trial Aims to Boost Kids’ Immune Systems to Fight Neuroblastoma
 New Trial Aims to Boost Kids’ Immune Systems to Fight Neuroblastoma 1024 558 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

A new cellular therapy approach could improve outcomes and ease the treatment burden for patients and families. Neuroblastoma is rare, with only 700 to 800 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year, but it is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Neuroblastoma typically occurs in children younger than 5 years, with…

Relative Adrenal Insufficiency Observed Among Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma During Treatment
 Relative Adrenal Insufficiency Observed Among Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma During Treatment 1024 683 Jessica Nye, PhD
By: Jessica Nye, PhD

A subset of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (NBL) and primary adrenal tumors develop an adrenal insufficiency (AI)-like phenotype during treatment. “We noticed that some of the patients with neuroblastoma had less hypotension when we added hydrocortisone while they were getting dinutuximab therapy. So, we said, I wonder if that has anything to do with the…

A Simple Intervention With Great Potential
 A Simple Intervention With Great Potential 1024 585 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

If the CORD-CHD Study meets even a single endpoint, it will represent one of the simplest and most accessible improvements in congenital heart disease management in recent history. The concept is elegant in its simplicity: delay clamping the umbilical cord for a minute or two after birth to allow a gentle increase in the baby’s…

6 Key Insights for Understanding Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension
 6 Key Insights for Understanding Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Nationwide Children’s pulmonary hypertension expert offers insights into the condition. Sarah P. Cohen, MD, physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Sleep Medicine and Cystic Fibrosis at Nationwide Children’s and assistant professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University, recently shared six essential insights for understanding pulmonary hypertension, a rare yet serious condition characterized by abnormally…

Evaluating the Mental Health Impact of a Promising New Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis
 Evaluating the Mental Health Impact of a Promising New Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis 706 470 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Insights from Nationwide Children’s study on how Trikafta affects children with cystic fibrosis. In response to the promising clinical benefits of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (Trikafta) in adults with cystic fibrosis, a team in Nationwide Children’s Hospital Cystic Fibrosis Clinic recently investigated the effects of the drug in pediatric patients. Kimberly Pasley, PsyD, mental health coordinator in the…

Managing the Pain of Medical Procedures With Virtual Reality
 Managing the Pain of Medical Procedures With Virtual Reality 1024 572 Mary Bates, PhD
By: Mary Bates, PhD

Clinicians across departments pilot a virtual reality game for pediatric pain management, moving virtual reality closer to clinical standard practice. A recent pilot study from researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital demonstrated the benefits of a virtual reality (VR) game during potentially painful procedures in different clinical settings. Providers and patients reported positive feedback to the…

After Concussion: Monitor Sleep and Limit Daytime Naps for Faster Recovery
 After Concussion: Monitor Sleep and Limit Daytime Naps for Faster Recovery 1024 540 Laura Dattner
By: Laura Dattner

A new study reinforces the importance of sleep for concussion recovery and supports recommendations for quality nighttime sleep with limited naps. Researchers have found that when it comes to concussion recovery, sleep matters. In a study published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that limiting daytime sleep and getting…

Eat, Sleep, Console: Reducing NICU Admissions of Infants With Prenatal Opioid Exposure
 Eat, Sleep, Console: Reducing NICU Admissions of Infants With Prenatal Opioid Exposure 1024 575 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Focusing on non-pharmacological care, emphasizing mother-baby bonding, and natural infant behaviors may keep infants out of the NICU, but other barriers may limit implementation. Infants exposed to opioids in utero may experience withdrawal symptoms after birth, which can vary in severity depending on many factors, such as length of exposure and type of opioid. In…

Updated Small Baby Care Guidelines Reflect 20 Years of Work Toward Improved Outcomes
 Updated Small Baby Care Guidelines Reflect 20 Years of Work Toward Improved Outcomes 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Thorough management guidelines for babies born before 27 weeks’ gestation join the program’s long list of accomplishments in improving survival and standardizing care for this vulnerable population. As the Small Baby Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is also releasing its latest set of care guidelines for their tiny patients. Divided…

What’s New in Pulmonary Care for Children With Sickle Cell Disease?
 What’s New in Pulmonary Care for Children With Sickle Cell Disease? 1024 575 Erin Gregory
By: Erin Gregory
Illustration of lungs on blue silhouette of upper chest on black background

A recent publication reviews the impact of pulmonary complications on children and youth with sickle cell disease (SCD) and offers suggestions to improve outcomes. Pulmonary complications are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children with sickle cell disease (SCD), yet they remain underrecognized and undertreated. A recent review published in Clinics in Chest Medicine…

Pivotal New Research Fuels Possibilities for Aggressive Pediatric Brain Cancer
 Pivotal New Research Fuels Possibilities for Aggressive Pediatric Brain Cancer 1024 414 Wendy Margolin
By: Wendy Margolin

A new umbrella trial of molecularly driven therapies for high-grade gliomas (HGG) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) aims to improve quality of live and extend survival rates for these aggressive tumors. The diagnosis of high-grade glioma (HGG), a type of aggressive, malignant brain tumor, in pediatric patients is particularly heartbreaking. HGGs are one of…

What Pediatric Endocrinologists Need to Know About Diabetes in the Age of GLP-1s
 What Pediatric Endocrinologists Need to Know About Diabetes in the Age of GLP-1s 1024 683 Erin Gregory
By: Erin Gregory

GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic (semaglutide) offer new opportunities for managing pediatric diabetes and obesity. These medications target insulin resistance and related comorbidities, but their use raises questions about safety, access and ethical considerations. In the following interview, Leena Mamilly, MD, and Rohan K. Henry, MD, pediatric endocrinology experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, explore…

Largest Pediatric ECMO Repository in the United States Celebrates 10 Years of Research
 Largest Pediatric ECMO Repository in the United States Celebrates 10 Years of Research 1024 537 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

The ECMO Repository at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is the first and larges of its kind in children’s hospitals in the United States. In December 2014, The Heart Center and Center for Cardiovascular Research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital launched an initiative to prospectively collect biologic samples from pediatric patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) – a…

Nephrotoxic-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (NAKI) Is Avoidable
 Nephrotoxic-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (NAKI) Is Avoidable 375 280 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Quality improvement initiative at Nationwide Children’s Hospital leads to significant reductions in NAKI. Nephrotoxic-associated acute kidney injury (NAKI) — an under-recognized but serious risk in pediatric hospital care — affects up to 25% of hospitalized children. It occurs when medications or toxins reduce kidney function by disrupting blood flow, damaging renal cells or triggering inflammation.…

Meet Prof Eileen Africa: Fulbright Scholar and Sports Medicine Expert
 Meet Prof Eileen Africa: Fulbright Scholar and Sports Medicine Expert 1024 683 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

Prof Eileen Africa, an associate professor in the Division of Movement Science and Exercise Therapy in the Department of Exercise, Sport, and Lifestyle Medicine at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and a Fulbright scholar, recently visited Nationwide Children’s to work with Dr. James MacDonald and the Sports Medicine Team conducting research about the effectiveness of…

Bridging the Fertility Awareness Gap in Adolescents With PCOS
 Bridging the Fertility Awareness Gap in Adolescents With PCOS 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Assessing knowledge, concerns and quality of life to inform early clinical counseling While polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is common in adolescent females, little is known about how the potential for long-term complications like infertility affect young patients’ well-being. Research with adult PCOS patients has found links between fertility challenges and diminished psychosocial well-being. However, there…

Childhood-Onset Rumination Syndrome: Insights from 15 Years of Research
 Childhood-Onset Rumination Syndrome: Insights from 15 Years of Research 1024 680 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Close up color photo of little boy holding hands on his belly

Education is needed to improve diagnostic timelines and treatment outcomes for pediatric patients. Childhood-onset rumination syndrome presents significant diagnostic challenges, even for gastroenterologists. Physicians often misdiagnose the symptoms as gastroesophageal reflux disease. Initial treatments frequently fail, leading to delays in accurate diagnosis. Patients can experience symptoms for 2 to 3 years before receiving an accurate…

Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Treatment: What You Need to Know
 Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Treatment: What You Need to Know 1024 575 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
Color image of young boy asleep in bed

Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, a common condition in children, is definitively diagnosed with sleep studies and can be treated through various modalities, depending on disease severity. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by snoring, gas exchange abnormalities and disrupted sleep, with near-complete airway blockage. Affecting approximately 1% to 4% of preschool children, with…

Subclinical Herpes Simplex Virus in Neonates: What to Do?
 Subclinical Herpes Simplex Virus in Neonates: What to Do? 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Neonates can test positive for HSV without having visible lesions or other classic symptoms, leaving clinical uncertainty regarding appropriate antiviral treatment and testing protocols. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have shared data on a sample of 17 neonates who tested positive for herpes simplex virus (HSV) at mucosal sites, without any mucosal lesions, positive blood…

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for Cerebral Palsy: Significant Gains in Mobility and Reduction in Spasticity Treatments
 Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy for Cerebral Palsy: Significant Gains in Mobility and Reduction in Spasticity Treatments 928 1024 Erin Gregory
By: Erin Gregory

Recent research shows that selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) significantly boosts motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP), particularly those who are ambulatory. The study highlights motor improvements and a reduced need for spasticity treatments, emphasizing SDR’s potential to enhance outcomes and quality of life for children with CP. Key Findings: Improvements in Motor Function…

4 Things to Know About Bladder Exstrophy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
 4 Things to Know About Bladder Exstrophy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital 1024 734 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

Led by V. Rama Jayanthi, MD, and Peter Cuckow, MB, BS, FRCS, the Bladder Exstrophy Program at Nationwide Children’s is poised to launch a new era of care for children in the United States. When Drs. Jayanthi and Cuckow start talking about their new program, their excitement is palpable. “We’re so excited to bring this…

What Types of Contraception Are Best Following Early Pregnancy Loss?
 What Types of Contraception Are Best Following Early Pregnancy Loss? 1024 683 Geri Hewitt, MD, Elise Berlan, MD, MPH and Johanna Taylor, APN
By: Geri Hewitt, MD, Elise Berlan, MD, MPH and Johanna Taylor, APN

Following early pregnancy loss (EPL), miscarriage or spontaneous abortion, pregnancy tests remain positive for several weeks often creating a challenge for clinicians initiating contraception. Fertility returns rapidly after EPL and almost all adolescents may use their contraceptive method of choice immediately after the pregnancy. Pregnancy tests detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a…

Optimizing Outpatient Epilepsy Care With Digital Seizure Action Plans
 Optimizing Outpatient Epilepsy Care With Digital Seizure Action Plans 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Customized seizure action plans enhance care and family use. Many schools and caregivers require families of children with epilepsy to provide a written seizure action plan (SAP) signed by their primary care provider. The Epilepsy Foundation provides a printable PDF form to fill out, print and sign. However, the form is limited in providing space…