Pediatric Cardiology

Biography

Biography: Therese M Giglia

Abstract

Thrombosis has long been recognized as a clinical problem to those caring for patients with pediatric and congenital heart disease. Much work has focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of thrombosis in Kawasaki Disease and to a lesser extent on the thrombotic complications associated with cardiac catheterization and cardiomyopathies. The prevention and management of thrombosis related to prosthetic valves, arrhythmias and pulmonary hypertension in children has largely been extrapolated from the adult literature. For the past decade, the single ventricle population has been identified as a particularly high-risk population for thrombosis and their potentially devastating sequelae. Two recent endeavors have highlighted the paucity of data and the need for much work in the areas of diagnosis, and treatment and most importantly in further defining risk factors so that these potentially life-threatening thrombotic complications can be prevented.
The American Heart Association commissioned a writing group of which I was the chairperson to critically review and summarize the available data on thrombosis in this patient population, and to make recommendations when appropriate. This work, published in 2013 is the first scientific statement to focus solely on the heterogeneous problem of thrombosis in pediatric and congenital heart disease and is intended to function not only as a resource for the clinician, but also as a springboard for much needed research. In 2012 the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute convened a Working Group of which I am a member to explore issues relevant to thrombosis in children with heart disease. A summary of the Group’s discussion on evidence gaps, challenges for this population and recommendations for strategic research was published in 2014. My talk will summarize for the clinician what is known in this area and highlight important factors deemed essential for much needed research.