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Spring Survey 2012 Results

Heart Problems in Children

Recorded on 6/26/2008
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  • University of Kentucky Medical Center

PROGRAM DETAILS:

This Patient Power program features Dr. Timothy Bricker, Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and physician-in-chief at Kentucky Children’s Hospital to discuss the rare topic of cardiac disease in children. Also participating in the program are two inspiring patients--Matthew, an adolescent with a genetic condition and Joey Michael, a young adult with a heart condition since birth.

Imagine watching your 12-year-old son at a swim meet, and moments before he touches the wall, he goes under the water and does not resurface. Kristy, the mother of Matthew, details this moment and the actions she took immediately after as she fought feverishly to save her son’s life. CPR and quick thinking helped save Matthew, but they had to wait for the ambulance for access to a defibrillator to restart his heart. Hear the challenge Matthew has brought before the Kentucky legislature to try to ensure this does not happen to another student.

Matthew’s condition was not known until he had a catastrophic experience. Providing another perspective is 28-year-old Joey Michael and his mother, Josephine. They share Joey’s journey, as he was born with a heart problem known as Transposition, which eventually led to him having an implanted defibrillator. Woven throughout this Patient Power program is Dr. Bricker’s perspectives on screening, genetics and long-term treatment for these diseases. The first signs of a heart problem can often be so subtle that even a routine electrocardiogram may miss it.

Dr. Bricker breaks down the most common structural heart defects seen in children. He explains that heart conditions are either a “plumbing” problem or an “electrical” problem. Many young children experience heart murmurs and cardiac arrhythmia - Dr. Bricker helps parents to understand when to be concerned. He stresses the importance of finding a cardiologist who specializes in your child’s particular heart problem because many cardiologists are more familiar with adult congenital heart disease than congenital heart disease in children. He also offers tremendous hope for the diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities in the fetus. Overall, this Patient Power program is an extremely important one detailing how America’s number one killer is affecting not only adults, but children too.

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EXPERTS & GUESTS:
Timothy Bricker, M.D., MBA
Chair of Pediatrics, University of Kentucky Medical Center
Dr. Bricker is Chairman of Pediatrics and Jacqueline A. Noonan Children’s Miracle Network Endowed Chair, at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and physician-in-chief of Kentucky Children's Hospital. He received his medical degree from Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed residency at Baylor College of Medicine. more >

Matthew Spicer,
14-year-old with genetic heart condition
Matthew was treated at Kentucky Children's Hospital for a genetic heart condition, discovered during a swim meet. According to his mother, she noticed a foot fall and then his arm as he swam during competition. She knew something was wrong and immediately jumped from the bleachers into the pool. She pulled him out of the water and, with a nurse... more >

TRANSCRIPT:

  1. Introduction
  2. Matthew’s Story
  3. Congenital Heart Problems in Children
  4. Treatment Options
  5. Joey’s Story
  6. Listeners’ Questions
  7. Screening and Genetics

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