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Epstein R, Yomogida M, Donovan D, Butensky A, Aidala AA, Farooqi KM, Shah AM, Chelliah A, DiLorenzo MP. Trends in cardiac CT utilization for patients with pediatric and congenital heart disease: A multicenter survey study. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2024; 18:267-273. [PMID: 38360501 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcct.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of cardiac CT (CCT) has increased dramatically in recent years among patients with pediatric and congenital heart disease (CHD), but little is known about trends and practice pattern variation in CCT utilization for this population among centers. METHODS A 21-item survey was created to assess CCT utilization in the pediatric/CHD population in calendar years 2011 and 2021. The survey was sent to all non-invasive cardiac imaging directors of pediatric cardiology centers in North America in September 2022. RESULTS Forty-one centers completed the survey. In 2021, 98% of centers performed CCT in pediatric and CHD patients (vs. 73% in 2011), and 61% of centers performed >100 CCTs annually (vs. 5% in 2011). While 62% of centers in 2021 utilized dual-source technology for high-pitch helical acquisition, 15% of centers reported primarily performing CCT on a 64-slice scanner. Anesthesia utilization, use of medications for heart rate control, and type of subspecialty training for physicians interpreting CCT varied widely among centers. 50% of centers reported barriers to CCT performance, with the most commonly cited concerns being radiation exposure, the need for anesthesia, and limited CT scan staffing or machine access. 37% (11/30) of centers with a pediatric cardiology fellowship program offer no clinical or didactic CCT training for categorical fellows. CONCLUSION While CCT usage in the CHD/pediatric population has risen significantly in the past decade, there is broad center variability in CCT acquisition techniques, staffing, workflow, and utilization. Potential areas for improvement include expanding CT scanner access and staffing, formal CCT education for pediatric cardiology fellows, and increasing utilization of existing technological advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Epstein
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Maiko Yomogida
- Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Denis Donovan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam Butensky
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, USA
| | - Angela A Aidala
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Goryeb Children's Hospital, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ, USA
| | - Kanwal M Farooqi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, USA
| | - Amee M Shah
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, USA
| | - Anjali Chelliah
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Goryeb Children's Hospital, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ, USA
| | - Michael P DiLorenzo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, USA
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Skaff AM, Valikodath NG, Godown J, Parra DA. "In-patient echocardiography utilization post repair of congenital heart disease. Analysis of data from the Pediatric Health Information System from 2010 to 2019". Cardiol Young 2024:1-6. [PMID: 38163984 DOI: 10.1017/s1047951123004407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Echocardiography is a key diagnostic tool for medical decision-making following congenital heart surgery. Overall utilisation of echocardiography for specific congenital heart lesions following cardiac surgery has not previously been reported. This study aims to assess echocardiogram utilisation following the surgical repair of CHD to describe the variation in use across centres and provide clinical benchmarks. METHODS All patients < 18 years of age undergoing surgical repair of CHD were identified from the Pediatric Health Information System from 2010 to 2019. Surgeries were grouped based on their Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 scores. Detailed billing data were used to assess the frequency/cost of post-operative echocardiograms, phase of hospital care, and hospital length of stay. RESULTS In total, 37,238 surgical encounters were identified for inclusion across 48 centres. Higher Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery scores were associated with an increased median number of post-operative echocardiograms (2 versus 4 in Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery score 1 versus 6, p < 0.001), and longer median post-operative length of stay (3 days versus 31 days in Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery score 1 versus 6, p < 0.001). After accounting for surgical complexity, there was significant variability in echocardiogram utilisation across centres (median daily echocardiogram utilisation range 0.2/day-0.6/day, p < 0.001). There is no difference in the proportion of patients with high surgical complexity (Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery ≥ 4) between centres with high versus low echocardiogram utilisation (p = 0.44). CONCLUSIONS Increasing surgical complexity is associated with longer post-operative length of stay and increased utilisation of echocardiography. There is wide variability in echocardiography resource utilisation across centres, even when accounting for surgical complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M Skaff
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Nishma G Valikodath
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Justin Godown
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - David A Parra
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Trussell TM, Kocaoglu M, Fleck RJ, Taylor MD, Zang H, Ollberding NJ, Lang SM. Extracardiac Findings on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: A Children's Hospital Experience. Pediatr Cardiol 2023:10.1007/s00246-023-03190-1. [PMID: 37209187 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-023-03190-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) incorporates a field of view that has the potential to capture clinically relevant extracardiac findings (ECF); however, there has been minimal investigation of ECF prevalence in children's hospitals, where the patient population varies in age and diagnosis. We retrospectively reviewed consecutive, clinically indicated, CMR studies performed at a tertiary care children's hospital during a 1-year period from January 1 to December 31, 2019. ECFs were classified as significant or non-significant based on whether they were described in the final impression of the CMR report. A total of 851 distinct patients had a CMR study during the 1-year period. Mean age was 19.5 (range 0.2; 74.2) years. A total of 254 ECFs were present in 158 of the 851 studies (18.6%) with 9.8% of all studies having significant ECFs. A total of 40.2% of ECFs were previously unknown and 9.1% (23/254) of ECFs included further recommendations (2.1% of all studies). ECFs were most often found in the chest (48%) or abdomen/pelvis (46%). Three patients were incidentally found to have malignancy (renal cell, thyroid, and hepatocellular carcinoma). Comparing studies with significant ECFs to the group without, CMR indications for biventricular CHD (43% vs 31%, p = 0.036), single ventricle CHD (12% vs 3.9%, p = 0.002), and aortopathy/vasculopathy (16% vs 7.6%, p = 0.020) were more common. The odds of significant ECF increased with increasing age (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.10-3.01) and increased most notably between ages 14 to 33 years old. Recognition of the high percentage of ECFs remains important for timely diagnosis of these incidental findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor M Trussell
- Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Heart Institute Research Core, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Murat Kocaoglu
- Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Robert J Fleck
- Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Heart Institute Research Core, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Huaiyu Zang
- Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Nicholas J Ollberding
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Sean M Lang
- Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
- Heart Institute Research Core, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
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Chelliah A, Nicol ED. Quality improvement in pediatric and congenital cardiac CT: A call to action. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2023:S1934-5925(23)00089-8. [PMID: 37019759 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcct.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Chelliah
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Goryeb Children's Hospital, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Edward D Nicol
- Departments of Cardiology and Radiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College, London, UK
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Pickard SS, Armstrong AK, Balasubramanian S, Buddhe S, Crum K, Kong G, Lang SM, Lee MV, Lopez L, Natarajan SS, Norris MD, Parra DA, Parthiban A, Powell AJ, Priromprintr B, Rogers LS, Sachdeva S, Shah SS, Smith CA, Stern KWD, Xiang Y, Young LT, Sachdeva R. Appropriateness of cardiovascular computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with conotruncal defects. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2023:S1934-5925(23)00048-5. [PMID: 36868899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcct.2023.01.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To promote the rational use of cardiovascular imaging in patients with congenital heart disease, the American College of Cardiology developed Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC), but its clinical application and pre-release benchmarks have not been evaluated. We aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of indications for cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiovascular computed tomography (CCT) in patients with conotruncal defects and to identify factors associated with maybe or rarely appropriate (M/R) indications. METHODS Twelve centers each contributed a median of 147 studies performed prior to AUC publication (01/2020) on patients with conotruncal defects. To incorporate patient characteristics and center-level effects, a hierarchical generalized linear mixed model was used. RESULTS Of the 1753 studies (80% CMR, and 20% CCT), 16% were rated M/R. Center M/R ranged from 4 to 39%. Infants accounted for 8.4% of studies. In multivariable analyses, patient- and study-level factors associated with M/R rating included: age <1 year (OR 1.90 [1.15-3.13]), truncus arteriosus (vs. tetralogy of Fallot, OR 2.55 [1.5-4.35]), and CCT (vs. CMR, OR 2.67 [1.87-3.83]). None of the provider- or center-level factors reached statistical significance in the multivariable model. CONCLUSIONS Most CMRs and CCTs ordered for the follow-up care of patients with conotruncal defects were rated appropriate. However, there was significant center-level variation in appropriateness ratings. Younger age, CCT, and truncus arteriosus were independently associated with higher odds of M/R rating. These findings could inform future quality improvement initiatives and further exploration of factors resulting in center-level variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah S Pickard
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sowmya Balasubramanian
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, AnnArbor, MI, USA
| | - Sujatha Buddhe
- Department of Cardiology, Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kimberly Crum
- Department of Pediatrics, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Grace Kong
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Heart Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sean M Lang
- The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Marc V Lee
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Heart Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Leo Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, Divison of Pediatric Cardiology, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Shobha S Natarajan
- Department of Pediatrics, Divison of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mark D Norris
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, AnnArbor, MI, USA
| | - David A Parra
- Department of Pediatrics, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Anitha Parthiban
- Department of Cardiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andrew J Powell
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bryant Priromprintr
- Department of Pediatrics, Divison of Pediatric Cardiology, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Lindsay S Rogers
- Department of Pediatrics, Divison of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shagun Sachdeva
- Department of Cardiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sanket S Shah
- Department of Pediatrics, Divison of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Mercy Kansas City, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Clayton A Smith
- Pediatric Biostatistics Core, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kenan W D Stern
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Heart Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yijin Xiang
- Pediatric Biostatistics Core, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Luciana T Young
- Department of Cardiology, Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ritu Sachdeva
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Steele JM, Moore RA, Lang SM. Use of advanced cardiac imaging in congenital heart disease: growth, indications and innovations. Curr Opin Pediatr 2021; 33:495-502. [PMID: 34374664 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000001051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Significant improvements in the diagnosis and management of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) have led to improved survival. These patients require life-long noninvasive evaluation. The use of advanced imaging such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT) has increased to support this need. The purpose of this review is to discuss the basics of advanced cardiac imaging, indications and review the recent innovations. RECENT FINDINGS Recent literature has demonstrated the increasing reliance of advanced imaging for CHD patients. In addition, research is focusing on CMR techniques to shorten scan time and address previous limitations that made imaging younger and sicker patients more challenging. CCT research has involved demonstrating high-quality images with low radiation exposure. Advances in digital technology have impacted the interactivity of 3D imaging through the use of virtual and augmented reality platforms. With the increased reliance of advanced imaging, appropriate use criteria have been developed to address possible under or over utilization. SUMMARY The utilization of advanced cardiac imaging continues to increase. As CMR and CCT continue to grow, increased knowledge of these modalities and their usage will be necessary for clinicians caring for CHD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M Steele
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Ryan A Moore
- Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Sean M Lang
- Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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