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Clinical Updates

New Consensus Guidance Addresses Antithrombotic Management in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease
 New Consensus Guidance Addresses Antithrombotic Management in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease 1024 670 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

New AATS consensus recommendations aim to reduce variation in antithrombotic testing, treatment, and monitoring for neonates and infants undergoing cardiac interventions. Antithrombotic management around cardiac procedures can be particularly challenging in neonates and infants, whose hemostatic systems differ from those of older children and adults. Limited population-specific evidence has contributed to substantial variation in practice…

Blood-Sparing Heart Surgery With Cardio-pulmonary Bypass: Limiting the Use of Blood Products for Repair of Congenital Heart Disease
 Blood-Sparing Heart Surgery With Cardio-pulmonary Bypass: Limiting the Use of Blood Products for Repair of Congenital Heart Disease 432 351 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
close up of gloved hands in a surgical field holding surgical instruments

More than two decades of work suggest that not only can complicated cardiac surgeries be done without blood transfusions but the outcomes are likely just as good as the traditional approach. For the multidisciplinary team of clinicians at Nationwide Children’s, blood transfusion and cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) operations are not inseparable concepts. What started out as…

Post-concussion Screen Time: Amount and Type Matter for Recovery
 Post-concussion Screen Time: Amount and Type Matter for Recovery 1024 661 Laura Dattner
By: Laura Dattner

A new study found that moderate screen time may speed recovery in youth with concussion. In a study published in British Journal of Sports Medicine, researchers found that about 141 minutes of screen time each day for the first three days following concussion was associated with quicker recovery. “These findings support that moderate screen time –…

A New Therapeutic Era for Sickle Cell Disease
 A New Therapeutic Era for Sickle Cell Disease 1024 320 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
Decorative gold bar and circles on a white background

Transformative therapies, coupled with novel approaches to supportive care, provide increasing hope for a normal life. For more than 100 years, progress in sickle cell disease (SCD) treatment has been slow. Its mainstay treatment, hydroxyurea, approved about 30 years ago, is a repurposed cancer drug. Its first curative therapy, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT),…

A Blueprint for Better Care: The Constant Drive for Quality Improvement in Primary Care
 A Blueprint for Better Care: The Constant Drive for Quality Improvement in Primary Care 1024 683 Alaina London
By: Alaina London
A smiling girl sits on a table at a doctor's office. A smiling female doctor is checking the girl's ear.

A culture of quality improvement at Nationwide Children’s Hospital has become the model of care for children across the country. Every day, thousands of children walk through the doors of Nationwide Children’s Primary Care Centers for well visits, follow-up care, acute illness and so much more. Across 14 primary care sites where more than 150,000…

Delays and Disparities in Uptake of Effective Antiseizure Medications
 Delays and Disparities in Uptake of Effective Antiseizure Medications 1024 562 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
Doctor in a white coat holding a clipboard pad and fill medical history list with silver pen.

National prescribing trends suggest many children may receive suboptimal epilepsy therapy. In the wake of landmark trials (SANAD II) firmly supporting the use of lamotrigine for focal and valproate for generalized epilepsy, neurologists at Nationwide Children’s expected these drugs would be increasingly prescribed. Instead, their analysis of nearly 150,000 children receiving their first antiseizure monotherapy…

Evaluating Adherence and Safety Outcomes for Neonatal UTI Diagnosis and Treatment
 Evaluating Adherence and Safety Outcomes for Neonatal UTI Diagnosis and Treatment 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
Newborn baby in an incubator at the NICU

Neonates are at increased risk for developing urinary tract infections, yet a knowledge gap exists regarding defining, diagnosing and treating them in the NICU. A study across seven Nationwide Children’s neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) reported 80% adherence to diagnostic criteria for urinary tract infection (UTI) and no safety concerns, with 90% of infants receiving…

Better Transitions From NG Tube to Oral Feeding
 Better Transitions From NG Tube to Oral Feeding 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Woman is spoon feeding a toddler

An intensive program helped 76% of children with nasogastric tubes transition to oral feeding, avoiding gastrostomy tube placement. Some children with pediatric feeding disorder who require prolonged nasogastric tube (NG tube) feeding may be able to avoid gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement through intensive multidisciplinary intervention, according to new research from Nationwide Children’s. Nationwide Children’s operates…

Evaluation of New-to-Market Coin-Cell Battery and Medical Management Recommendations
 Evaluation of New-to-Market Coin-Cell Battery and Medical Management Recommendations 1024 790 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller
X-ray image showing a button battery lodged in a child's throat, with a callout showing a close up of the battery, highlighting the double ring around it

First peer-reviewed evaluation of a commercially available esophageal-protective lithium coin-cell battery demonstrates substantially reduced tissue injury, but researchers emphasize that current emergency medical management should remain unchanged. When a lithium coin-cell battery becomes lodged in a child’s esophagus, severe tissue injury can develop rapidly. According to the first peer-reviewed scientific evaluation of a commercially available…

Rumination Syndrome May Be Underrecognized in Children With Eosinophilic Esophagitis
 Rumination Syndrome May Be Underrecognized in Children With Eosinophilic Esophagitis 1024 683 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
physicians in white coats looking at a tablet

New research highlights the importance of considering co-diagnoses in children with persistent regurgitation. Regurgitation is a common symptom in both eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and rumination syndrome (RS), but new research suggests the overlap between the two conditions may be greater than previously recognized. The findings highlight a potential diagnostic challenge for pediatric gastroenterologists and underscore…

Study Reveals Challenges in Cardiac Transplantation Referrals for High-Risk Infants
 Study Reveals Challenges in Cardiac Transplantation Referrals for High-Risk Infants 1024 670 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Findings from a recent retrospective study demonstrate challenges and inequities in cardiac transplantation referrals for infants with single ventricle congenital heart disease, suggesting the need to improve access to transplantation and the timing and rate of transplantation referral.   A retrospective study led by Lydia K. Wright, MD, pediatric cardiologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, examined…

Robotic Pyeloplasty Is a Viable Option for Infants Younger Than 6 Months
 Robotic Pyeloplasty Is a Viable Option for Infants Younger Than 6 Months 1024 677 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Dr. DaJusta, urologist, standing in a hospital hallway smiling.

A Nationwide Children’s study found comparable outcomes with robotic and open pyeloplasty in infants younger than 6 months, suggesting patient size alone should not preclude a robotic approach.   Robotic pyeloplasty appears to be a viable alternative to open surgery even in infants younger than 6 months, with comparable surgical success and postoperative outcomes, according…

Mutation-Specific Therapy Brings New Hope for Patient With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
 Mutation-Specific Therapy Brings New Hope for Patient With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 1024 484 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller
A man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy sits in a wheelchair between two family members

Justin Nicholoff is the first patient at Nationwide Children’s to receive del-zota through a managed access program. Since research into exon skipping therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) took off about 15 years ago, Justin Nicholoff has waited for a therapy designed for his specific genetic mutation. In June, his wait ended as he became…

Insurance-Driven Switches to Adalimumab Biosimilars Maintain Disease Control in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
 Insurance-Driven Switches to Adalimumab Biosimilars Maintain Disease Control in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Woman in scrubs with a stethoscope talking with teen.

New pediatric data may help clinicians reassure patients and families about nonmedical treatment switches Since biosimilar versions of adalimumab became available in the United States in 2023, more insurers have required patients receiving the originator medication to switch to a biosimilar. Researchers have deemed biosimilars safe and effective alternatives in adults. However, there is limited…

Treating Cystic Fibrosis Before Birth May Prevent Some of Its Earliest Complications
 Treating Cystic Fibrosis Before Birth May Prevent Some of Its Earliest Complications 1024 575 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

At Nationwide Children’s, fetal medicine and pulmonary specialists are collaborating to offer an emerging prenatal treatment approach. For children with cystic fibrosis, disease-related injury can begin before birth. Now, clinicians at Nationwide Children’s are using a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulator — commonly called a CFTR modulator — during pregnancy with the goal of…

A New Era in Pediatric Obesity Treatment
 A New Era in Pediatric Obesity Treatment 1024 683 Joan Han, MD
By: Joan Han, MD
A hand adjusts the weight measurement on a doctor's scale in a healthcare setting.

For decades, pediatric obesity treatment options were limited. Clinicians relied primarily on lifestyle interventions, with few effective medications available for children and adolescents. Today, however, advances in obesity medicine are transforming care and creating new opportunities to improve long-term health outcomes for young patients. Obesity is increasingly recognized as a complex, chronic disease influenced by…

Novel Ligamentum Teres Reconstruction Technique May Improve Hip Development in Developmental Hip Dysplasia
 Novel Ligamentum Teres Reconstruction Technique May Improve Hip Development in Developmental Hip Dysplasia 1024 684 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Cute baby lies in a white round bed. Light nursery for young children. Toys for infant cot. Smiling child playing with mobile of felt and chewing his feet in sunny bedroom.

Children treated with a novel suture button technique experienced improved acetabular remodeling following open hip reduction. Achieving a stable reduction, in which the femoral head remains securely positioned within the hip socket, is the primary goal of treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Greater hip stability has shown to improve acetabular remodeling following…

Study Supports Use of Flow-Diverting Stent for Complex Brain Aneurysms in Children
 Study Supports Use of Flow-Diverting Stent for Complex Brain Aneurysms in Children 1024 531 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
MRA Brain or Magnetic resonance angiography (MRI) of Vessel in the brain sagittal view for evaluate them stenosis

New research suggests that a minimally invasive flow-diversion device approved for adults may offer a safe and effective treatment option for children with complex brain aneurysms. Pediatric intracranial aneurysms are rare, but when they occur, they can be among the most challenging cerebrovascular conditions to treat. Many have complex morphologies and locations that may not…

Improving Neonatal X-Ray Quality Through Standardization
 Improving Neonatal X-Ray Quality Through Standardization 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Baby in a NICU bed with nasal canula. Swaddled in white blanket with health care worker's hand gently resting on the baby.

Pre-X-ray Safety CHECK reduces repeat imaging, radiation exposure and diagnostic variability in the NICU. Portable radiographs are necessary for diagnosing disease and evaluating position of medical devices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). However, repeat imaging due to poor-quality radiographs exposes vulnerable infants to additional radiation and unnecessary handling, disrupting their environment and potentially compromising…

Get to Know the Neuroimmunology Clinic: Q&A With Kelsey Poisson, MD
 Get to Know the Neuroimmunology Clinic: Q&A With Kelsey Poisson, MD 150 150 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Dr. Poisson answers questions about the importance of specialized neuroimmunology care and what the Nationwide Children’s Neuroimmunology Clinic offers its patients. The Neuroimmunology Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers patients with complex neuroimmune disorders a one-stop shop for multidisciplinary care. By integrating visits with neuroimmunology, rheumatology, neuropsychology, psychology, psychiatry, pharmacy and a dedicated nurse clinician,…

Phase I Glioblastoma Cancer Vaccine Trial Shows Promise for Patients and Novel Vaccine Platform
 Phase I Glioblastoma Cancer Vaccine Trial Shows Promise for Patients and Novel Vaccine Platform 1024 683 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
Close up of gloved doctor's hands injecting vaccine medicine into a syringe - stock image

Early results suggest extended survival and the potential to manufacture customized vaccines that target up to 40 patient-specific neoantigens. Glioblastoma is the most common primary central nervous system cancer in adults. Highly heterogenous from patient to patient and even within a single tumor, it is notoriously hard to treat — especially for a subgroup of…

Nationwide Children’s Specialty Pharmacy Expands Access to Life-Changing Care
 Nationwide Children’s Specialty Pharmacy Expands Access to Life-Changing Care 1024 683 Alaina London
By: Alaina London

Nationwide Children’s Specialty Pharmacy is helping more patients access life-changing medications faster. What began as a focused effort to better serve patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has grown into a comprehensive Specialty Pharmacy program supporting patients across more than 11 disease states at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Over the last decade, the program has evolved into…

Advancing Care for Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes, an Urgent and Evolving Public Health Issue
 Advancing Care for Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes, an Urgent and Evolving Public Health Issue 1024 589 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
Young adult using a finger-prick device to check blood sugar levels while holding a glucose meter, standing at a kitchen counter with a small medical kit nearby.

Type 2 diabetes was once considered an adult-only condition, but today, that paradigm has shifted dramatically. Pediatric endocrinologists are caring for a growing and increasingly complex population of young patients with type 2 diabetes, underscoring the urgency of effective care.  “Youth-onset type 2 diabetes is no longer rare – it’s an urgent and rapidly evolving…

Identifying Low-Risk Children With Intermittent Asthma
 Identifying Low-Risk Children With Intermittent Asthma 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
a woman makes inhalation to a child at home. brings the nebulizer mask to his face. inhales the vapor of the medication. the girl is breathing through a mask

Research suggests opportunities to refine treatment guidelines and reduce unnecessary medication use. In the medical community, there is an ongoing debate over the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines, which discourage the use of short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) alone, in patients with mild asthma. Instead, the guidelines advise adding as needed anti-inflammatory therapy as a first step.…

Fast Brain MRI Demonstrates High Diagnostic Value for Pediatric Neurologic Emergencies
 Fast Brain MRI Demonstrates High Diagnostic Value for Pediatric Neurologic Emergencies 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

Fast brain MRI is a radiation-sparing technique that has demonstrated value as a screening tool for generalized emergent neurologic conditions in the pediatric emergency setting.   A recent retrospective study led by Nathaniel Forman, MD, a former pediatric emergency medicine fellow at Nationwide Children’s and current pediatrician at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, reported that fast…

A Balancing Act: Early Versus Late Renal and Bladder Ultrasound After a First Febrile Urinary Tract Infection
 A Balancing Act: Early Versus Late Renal and Bladder Ultrasound After a First Febrile Urinary Tract Infection 1024 634 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
By: JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM
person in blue scrubs holding a baby, cropped so focus is on the baby

Performing a renal and bladder ultrasound less than 24 hours after a first febrile urinary tract infection increases the likelihood of detecting non-clinically relevant, transient inflammatory changes.   A retrospective study conducted at Nationwide Children’s and four other academic pediatric hospitals reported that a renal and bladder ultrasound (RBUS) performed less than 24 hours after…

Testing for Alpha-gal Syndrome: Clinical Clarity for Primary Care
 Testing for Alpha-gal Syndrome: Clinical Clarity for Primary Care 1024 683 David Stukus, MD and William Long, MD
By: David Stukus, MD and William Long, MD
Photo of lone star tick on a leaf, the tick has a white dot on the center of its back

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) presents a unique diagnostic challenge for clinicians, often leading to unnecessary testing in patients with vague allergic symptoms or solely due to a history of a tick bite with no other symptoms. Understanding when — and when not — to order testing can prevent overdiagnosis, patient anxiety and unnecessary costs. AGS is…

Parent-Practitioner Collaboration Sparks New, Multidisciplinary Approach to Down Syndrome Care
 Parent-Practitioner Collaboration Sparks New, Multidisciplinary Approach to Down Syndrome Care 1024 661 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
A girl with Down syndrome smiling

An enhanced, family-focused clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital now offers appointments with multiple specialists in a single-location, single-day clinic. Even before birth, Down syndrome is a condition that demands the attention of multiple medical specialties. From geneticists and neonatologists to the cardiologists who often have to evaluate congenital heart defects in this special population, optimal…

The Kelly Procedure: A Groundbreaking Approach to Treating Bladder Exstrophy
 The Kelly Procedure: A Groundbreaking Approach to Treating Bladder Exstrophy 150 150 Alaina London
By: Alaina London

The Kelly Procedure, part of a revolutionary two-step approach to treat bladder exstrophy, provides continence quicker, improves outcomes and shortens recovery. Bladder exstrophy is a rare and complex condition that occurs in approximately one in 10,000 to 50,000 births. With this condition, the bladder develops outside the body, leaving children incontinent and requiring surgical intervention…

Beyond Modulators: Ensuring All Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Benefit From the Next Wave of Therapy
 Beyond Modulators: Ensuring All Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Benefit From the Next Wave of Therapy 1024 618 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck
Two smiling young children sit side by side indoors, facing the camera, with a colorful blurred artwork in the background.

Before CFTR modulators transformed care, cystic fibrosis (CF) was defined by relentless daily treatment and progressive lung disease. Children grew up with thick airway secretions, chronic cough, recurrent pulmonary infections, and frequent hospitalizations. Maintaining weight was a constant struggle, and lung function typically declined year after year despite aggressive airway clearance, antibiotics and nutritional support.…

New Health Challenges in the Post-CFTR Modulator Era
 New Health Challenges in the Post-CFTR Modulator Era 1024 576 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

The remarkable progress in CF care has also revealed new challenges. As individuals with CF live longer, clinicians are seeing higher frequencies of complications and other down- stream health concerns that rarely emerged in the past and are now focused on aging-related diseases and maintaining their overall health. Karen McCoy, MD, pediatric pulmonologist and renowned…

Precision Medicine Brings Clarity to Preterm Infant Reflux
 Precision Medicine Brings Clarity to Preterm Infant Reflux 1024 492 Alaina London
By: Alaina London
Newborn baby in an NICU bed with a nasogastric tube.

Sudarshan Jadcherla, MD, and team aim to distinguish normal reflux from GERD in preterm infants. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in preterm infants regardless of whether they are being fed formula or breast milk, often presenting as irritability, coughing or feeding difficulties. These symptoms often lead clinicians to suspect gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), prompting interventions…

Lowering Thrombin Levels Offers a Double Benefit in Glomerular Disease Model
 Lowering Thrombin Levels Offers a Double Benefit in Glomerular Disease Model 1024 410 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
By: Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES
microscopy image of podocytes, a type of cell found in the kidney, stained with blue and fluorescent yellow. small red dots mark the cell

Preclinical studies suggest that reducing levels of the clotting enzyme may simultaneously reduce kidney damage and lower risk of blood clots. Preclinical research in an in vivo model now confirms what Bryce Kerlin, MD, and his team first proposed in a publication 8 years ago: excess thrombin directly injures podocytes, and high levels in the…

Finding the Unexpected: Pulmonary Sclerosing Pneumocytoma in a Pediatric Patient
 Finding the Unexpected: Pulmonary Sclerosing Pneumocytoma in a Pediatric Patient 1024 575 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

A case study demonstrates the need for a structured evaluation and consideration of genetic risk factors in rare pediatric tumors. Primary lung tumors in children are rare and present diagnostic uncertainty. A recent case study published in Pediatric Pulmonology highlights the evaluation and management of an unusual benign lung nodule in a school-age child. This…

In Sight: Targeted Muscle Reinnervation
 In Sight: Targeted Muscle Reinnervation 150 150 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller

Amputation in pediatrics is often a result of traumatic injury or cancers, such as osteosarcoma. At Nationwide Children’s, Thomas Scharschmidt, MD, director of the Orthopedic Oncology Program, is a leader in limb salvage surgery and targeted muscle reinnervation.  Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is a surgical technique that reroutes severed peripheral nerves into nearby muscles, giving…

The Growing Use of Robotics in General Pediatric Surgical Procedures
 The Growing Use of Robotics in General Pediatric Surgical Procedures 1024 683 Lauren Dembeck
By: Lauren Dembeck

Pediatric surgeons are increasingly turning to robotic technology for the delivery of safe and enhanced minimally invasive surgical approaches for younger children. Over the past two decades, the use of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques for both laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery have been widely adopted for the treatment of children requiring various surgical procedures. This…

Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts: A Breakthrough for Children With Heart Defects
 Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts: A Breakthrough for Children With Heart Defects 968 1024 Abbie Miller
By: Abbie Miller
Illustration of a heart showing the Fontan surgery

An innovation 30 years in the making is poised to change the way children with single ventricle disease experience life after a Fontan procedure. Children with single ventricle disease are often described as having “half a heart.” What this really means is that one of their ventricles (either the right or left lower chamber of…

One Gene, Big Impact: The Science Behind a New Therapy for Brain and Muscle Health
 One Gene, Big Impact: The Science Behind a New Therapy for Brain and Muscle Health 1024 683 Madison Storm
By: Madison Storm
Dr. Zarife Sahenk, MD, PhD

A promising new gene therapy developed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is offering hope for new patients with neurodegenerative and muscle disorders. Led by Zarife Sahenk, MD, PhD, a neurologist, principal investigator in the Jerry R. Mendell Center for Gene Therapy and director of Clinical and Experimental Neuromuscular Pathology at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute, the…

Shorter Antibiotic Courses Appear Safe for Uncomplicated Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections in the NICU
 Shorter Antibiotic Courses Appear Safe for Uncomplicated Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections in the NICU 1024 602 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Newborn baby with nasal canula oxygen support receiving care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a hospital, resting while monitored by medical staff.

Neonatology and pediatric pharmacy partner to advance antibiotic stewardship. For years, Pablo J. Sánchez, MD, principal investigator in the Center for Perinatal Research in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, observed that approximately 7 days of antibiotic therapy appeared sufficient for selected neonates with uncomplicated gram-negative bloodstream infections that does not involve…

Filling a Critical Gap in Relapsed Sarcoma Treatment
 Filling a Critical Gap in Relapsed Sarcoma Treatment 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana
Blood Sample in test tube

A first-in-sarcoma trial at Nationwide Children’s Hospital tests universal-donor NK cells with chemotherapy to address poor survival rates.   The five-year overall survival rate for children and young adults with relapsed bone or soft tissue sarcomas is between 17 and 26%. For Bhuvana A. Setty, MD, pediatric hematologist and oncologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, that reality is not acceptable. …

Selective Steroid Use After Kasai Portoenterostomy Improves Outcomes in Biliary Atresia
 Selective Steroid Use After Kasai Portoenterostomy Improves Outcomes in Biliary Atresia 1024 683 Pam Georgiana
By: Pam Georgiana

Postoperative protocol is associated with improved bile drainage and higher native liver survival without increased short-term risk. A new study published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition provides evidence that a selective, marker-guided approach to postoperative steroid use improves outcomes for infants with biliary atresia following Kasai portoenterostomy. Led by Jaimie D. Nathan,…

Study Shows Younger Children Experience Persistent Symptoms Following Concussion
 Study Shows Younger Children Experience Persistent Symptoms Following Concussion 1024 540 Abbie Miller and Katelyn Scott
By: Abbie Miller and Katelyn Scott

Nearly 30% of children younger than 6 years who had a concussion during the study had prolonged symptoms, which can affect learning and behavior later in childhood. When people typically think of concussion, the first type of patient that comes to mind is a youth athlete. However, concussion is also common in early childhood, due…

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
Dr. Kevin Klingele wearing scrubs in the middle of surgery

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
Mother hand holding child hand who have IV solution in the hospital with love and care

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…