Radio Rounds

Pediatric cardiologists at the St. Louis Children’s and Washington University Heart Center care for more children with heart disease than any other center in the region. With extensive experience treating children with common to complex heart issues, from cardiac surgeries and cardiac catheterizations to heart monitoring, our heart specialists are the region’s go-to heart program for second opinions and referrals for advanced pediatric heart care.

Dr. Caroline Lee joins the show to discuss how the Heart Center’s continuum of care, and when to refer a patient to a specialist.

Devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic include increases in opioid misuse and related overdoses, as well as the rising incidence of newborns experiencing withdrawal syndrome due to opioid use and abuse during pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 130 people in America-- or one person every 11 minutes-- dies everyday due to accidental misuse of these drugs.

Dr. AuBuchon joins the show to discuss this serious national crisis, and what pediatricians and other heath care providers can do to help combat this deadly addiction.

The Centers for Disease Control recently linked a current lung disease outbreak to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vape devices. These devices have rapidly become the most common tobacco products used by teens, driven in large part by marketing and advertising by e-cigarette companies that market the products’ convenience of use and flavor variety. Now, however, the use of these unregulated products is landing many kids in the emergency rooms of hospitals across the country with serious lung illnesses.

Dr. Ferkol joins the show to discuss the current outbreak, when a child should be seen for treatment, as well as recommendations for pediatricians and pediatric health care providers to combat tobacco use in all forms.

The neurorehabilitation program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital is designed to address the needs of children and adolescents who have suffered severe injury or illness. In-patient rehabilitation is available for children age 6 months and older whose illness or injury has resulted in impaired physical, cognitive or communication skills.

Michael Noetzel, MD, Washington University pediatric neurologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, joins the show to discuss how the neurorehabilitation program strives to maximize physical, psychological, cognitive, social and educational outcomes for children with a variety of neurologic conditions.

Earlier this month, St. Louis Children's Hospital welcomed Trish Lollo, former president of Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, as its new president. Listen as Trish gives a glimpse into the journey that led her to St Louis, and her vision for St. Louis Children's Hospital.

Traditionally, cochlear implants are only provided to children with severe-to-profound hearing loss in both ears. At St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the cochlear implant program is one of the only in the area—and one of few in the nation—providing cochlear implants to children with single-sided deafness.

Bernadette Rakszawski, pediatric audiologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, joins the show to discuss how her team is leading the way in assessing the impact of single-sided deafness, as well as understanding how various treatment options affect expected outcomes.

A normal spine, when viewed from behind appears straight. However, a spine affected by kyphosis shows evidence of a forward curvature of the vertebrae in the upper back area, giving the child an abnormally rounded or "humpback" appearance. Children whose curvature exceeds a limited range of variation - curving forward in a “C” shape- will require medical attention and may be diagnosed with kyphosis. Together with scoliosis, another type of curvature, this condition comprises a significant proportion of spinal deformity diagnoses seen by pediatric orthopedists.

Dr. Munish Gupta joins the show to discuss the importance of early detection, treatments, and follow-up care for children diagnosed with kyphosis.

The St. Louis Children’s Hospital Department of Therapy Services provides occupational, physical and speech therapy within an individualized state-of-the-art model of care in conjunction with world class physicians and medical practices. As a highly trained pediatric team with an international reputation for excellence, the staff tailors therapy to each child's developmental stage and individual needs for the most effective results. Now, pediatricians, patients and families have the convenience of accessing these services at a new location near Progress West Hospital.

Sarah Becker, speech language pathologist, joins the show to discuss services offered and when a pediatrician should refer a patient to a therapy specialist.

Good sleep is essential to a child's health and well-being, but not all kids get the recommended amount that their bodies need. For issues that require care from a specialist, the Sleep Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, meets the highest possible standards for comprehensive sleep care for newborns to young adults.

Dr. James Kemp explains how our newly-expanded sleep lab is designed just for kids and is fully equipped with the latest equipment and the staff is fully trained in a wide array of sleep disorders in children.

As kids continue to focus on one sport early on and playing it year-round, sometimes on multiple teams at once, overuse injuries have increased dramatically over the past decade.

Tom McGowan discusses how The Washington University and St. Louis Children's Young Athlete Center has developed a series of interactive injury prevention and educational programs designed to improve the overall health of young athletes.