Children's Hospital Colorado

Pediatric Cardiology Medical Education Videos

We are one of the largest programs in the country treating patients with heart problems from before birth through adulthood, with exceptional outcomes.

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At Children’s Hospital Colorado, we regularly treat complex and rare heart conditions and conduct research to push the field of pediatric cardiology forward. In an effort to improve cardiology for kids not just in our care, but everywhere, we’re sharing resources based on our experience and research.

In the videos below, our pediatric heart experts discuss important topics in the field, including treatment for specific conditions, research findings and much more to help better prepare you to care for patients with congenital heart defects (CHDs) and other childhood heart conditions.

Widening care gap in ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy

In the 2023 multicenter study titled "The Widening Care Gap in Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Therapy," researchers compared the outcomes of different VADs, including the HeartMate 3, HeartWare VAD (HVAD) and Berlin Heart, focusing on pediatric and young adult patients. It offers valuable insights into the technological advancements and challenges in VAD therapy, highlighting the impact on patient care and treatment outcomes. 

In this video, Scott R. Auerbach, MD, explores the consequences of the HVAD's discontinuation and compares it with the HeartMate 3 using data from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Intermacs and Pedimacs registries. Dr. Auerbach explains the differences in survival rates and adverse events across age groups, revealing a significant care gap for pediatric patients in need of intracorporeal support. 

Crisis resource management in medicine: a clarion call for change

Crisis resource management, or CRM, includes the cognitive, social and personal resource skills that complement technical skills and contribute to safe task performance. CRM is a risk-reducing strategy, where increased understanding of non-technical skills among members in an organization is regarded as a safety measure. The aviation industry has applied CRM for over 40 years to reduce errors and it is now being studied within healthcare to reduce medical errors and improve patient outcomes.

Robert Bishop, MD, Director of the Heart Institute In-situ Simulation Program, is interested in CRM because of because of an increasing incidence of harm to patients due to medical errors. Dr. Bishop co-authored a research paper on CRM in medicine with Robert Strickland, Senior Manager of Human Factors and Pilot Development at United Airlines. In this video, they discuss CRM, how it’s been applied and assessed within the aviation industry, and how it can be applied and standardized within the medical industry.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome treatment and research

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a complex heart defect in which the structures of the left side of the heart don’t develop properly. The left ventricle does not operate as a systemic ventricle, obstructing blood flow to the rest of the body both during fetal development and after birth. Prenatal diagnosis is essential for HLHS so our pediatric specialists can begin treatment right after birth or during pregnancy, in some cases.

In the following video, James Jaggers, MD, Co-Director of the Heart Institute at Children’s Colorado and pediatric cardiac surgeon, discusses HLHS treatment options, HLHS survival rates at Children’s Colorado and multidisciplinary follow-up care. Dr. Jaggers also talks about the cutting-edge research we are involved in as part of the Mayo Clinic’s HLHS consortium.

Non-surgical patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure for neonates

Recent innovations in cardiac catheterization allow pediatric interventional cardiologists to perform non-surgical patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure on premature infants, offering families a lower risk and less invasive option than PDA closure surgery. Children’s Colorado is the only pediatric hospital in the region performing this advanced procedure with the Piccolo device from Abbott Labs, which was recently approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).

In this video, Gareth Morgan, MD, Medical Director of our Cardiac Catheterization Program, discusses the advantages of transcatheter PDA closure, referral guidelines for neonatologists and what the experience is like for patients and families.

For additional clinical resources, consultations or referrals, please see Children's Colorado's professional resources for healthcare professionals.