Cardiology 2010 conference focuses on current treatments for children with heart disease

The Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaFeb 10 2010

Medical Professionals to Present Research Updates, Clinical Tips – and Even Music

An international group of over 900 medical experts gathers today to discuss the most current treatments for children with heart disease. Affecting about 8 in every 1,000 children, congenital (present at birth) heart disease is the most common birth defect. In its severe forms, it is also the leading cause of death from birth defects in infants.

In addition to congenital heart disease, acquired heart disease in children such as hypertension and heart infection will be discussed. Obesity is also putting children at increased risk for acquired heart disease, previously limited to older patients.

Cardiology 2010, the 13th Annual Update on Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease, occurs in Orlando, Fla., today through Feb. 14. Sponsored by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the conference is the largest stand-alone annual pediatric cardiology meeting of its kind.

Cardiologists, heart surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses from nearly every state and 16 countries will exchange research on new medications for children with heart disease, innovative surgical treatments, neurodevelopmental outcomes in school-age children with heart disease and the latest recommendations for pediatric heart care.

"At Cardiology 2010, the most significant advances in patient care, research and training are discussed by the people making them happen," said the conference's course director, Gil Wernovsky, M.D., associate chief of Cardiology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "The research being presented this year is of the highest caliber."

One of the featured presentations at the conference, by David Goldberg, M.D., pediatric cardiologist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, describes how the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil plays an important role in improving heart function in children with single-ventricle heart defects – serious conditions that impair the heart's ability to pump blood. Other featured presentations concern a trial of drugs to prevent respiratory syncytial virus infections in pediatric heart patients, a trial of surgical therapy for hypoplastic left heart syndrome and a trial of ACE inhibitors in children with single-ventricle disease. The latter two trials were sponsored by the Pediatric Heart Network.

In addition to high-caliber medical research, those attending can enjoy high-quality entertainment from their musically-gifted colleagues, performing as the Blue Baby Jazz and Sound Collective on Saturday night. Members of the course faculty perform with a string section joined by brass and woodwinds, vocalists and a full rhythm section. The cardiologists, surgeons and nurses perform a variety of genres, including jazz and pop. "It's always important for cardiologists to have rhythm," remarks Wernovsky.