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In paediatric pulmonary embolism, cardiac findings and thromboembolic outcomes are poorly defined. We conducted a mixed retrospective-prospective cohort study of paediatric pulmonary embolism at the Children's Hospital Colorado between March, 2006 and January, 2011. A total of 58 consecutive children - age less than or equal to 21 years - with acute pulmonary embolism were enrolled. Data collection included clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatments, serial echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings, and outcomes of pulmonary embolism non-resolution and recurrence. The median age was 16.5 years ranging from 0 to 21 years. The most prevalent clinical risk factors were oral contraceptive pill use (52% of female patients), presence of a non-infectious inflammatory condition (21%), and trauma (21%). Thrombophilias included heterozygous factor V Leiden in 21%; antiphospholipid antibody syndrome was established in 31% overall. Proximal pulmonary artery involvement was present in 34%. At presentation, nearly half of the patients had hypoxaemia and 37% had tachycardia. The classic electrocardiographic finding of S1Q3T3 was present in 12% acutely; tricuspid regurgitation greater than 3 metres per second, septal flattening, and right ventricular dilation were each present on acute echocardiogram in 25%. Nearly all patients received therapeutic anticoagulation, with initial systemic tissue plasminogen activator administered in 16% for occlusive iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis and/or massive pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism resolution was observed in 82% by 6 months. Recurrent pulmonary embolism occurred in 9%. There were no pulmonary embolism-related deaths. Right ventricular dysfunction was rare in follow-up. These data indicate that acute heart strain is common, but chronic cardiac dysfunction is rare, following aggressive management of acute pulmonary embolism in children.

Purpose: Young individuals with occlusive, proximal-limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT) who have acutely increased plasma levels of factor VIII and D-dimer are at high risk for postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) when treated with conventional anticoagulation alone. The present report is an evaluation of experience with adjunctive percutaneous mechanical thrombolysis (PMT) and/or percutaneous pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PPMT) in such patients., Patients and Methods: Among 95 children 11-21 years of age enrolled in a prospective cohort of venous thromboembolism between March 1, 2006, and November 1, 2009, 16 met eligibility criteria and underwent PMT/PPMT, typically with adjunctive catheter-directed thrombolytic infusion (CDTI) of tissue-type plasminogen activator given after the procedure., Results: Median age was 16 years (range, 11-19 y). Thirteen cases (81%) involved lower limbs. Underlying stenotic lesions were disclosed in 53%, with endovascular stents deployed in all cases of May-Thurner anomaly. There were no periprocedural major bleeding events and one symptomatic pulmonary embolism. Technical success rate was 94%. Early (< 30 days) locally recurrent DVT developed in 40% of cases, of which 83% were successfully treated with repeat lysis. Late recurrent DVT rate (median follow-up duration, 14 months; range, 1-42 mo) was 27%. Cumulative incidence of physically and functionally significant PTS at 1-2 years was 13%., Conclusions: This experience provides preliminary evidence that PMT/PPMT with adjunctive CDTI can be used safely and effectively in adolescent subjects with DVT at high risk for PTS., (Copyright © 2011 SIR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The University of Colorado School of Medicine has developed an innovative 4-year undergraduate curriculum. As a strong advocate for education and curriculum reform, Dr M. Douglas Jones Jr. created an environment for pediatrics to flourish in this new curriculum. Pediatric content has increased in all years of the curriculum, and pediatric faculty have had greater opportunities to teach and seek career development in medical education. In this report, we review the process that led to curriculum reform, provide an overview of the new curriculum design, and highlight examples of the positive impact this process has had on education in pediatrics. We hope that sharing our experience, may benefit others in medical education.