Heart Failure in Children

Completing this online activity consists of five steps:

1. Read all information below
2. Read the article
3. Take the posttest
4. Complete the registration and evaluation form
5. Fill out and print your statement of hours completed

Release Date: August 1, 2009
Valid for credit through: July 31, 2010

Jointly sponsored by the University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital.

Credits Available:
Up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits

Heart failure is the final, common pathway of a complex interplay of structural, functional, and biologic factors that lead to cardiac pump and circulatory system dysfunction. Such factors result in an inability of the heart to keep up with the metabolic demands of the body. In contrast to adults in whom ischemic heart disease is the most common etiology of heart failure, in children, a range of defects, including congenital heart defects, systemic metabolic disorders that affect the myocardium, tachyarrhythmias, and acquired heart disease can cause heart failure to develop.

Recent advances in the medical and surgical management of heart failure have improved the morbidity and mortality of heart failure in the pediatric population. Additionally, recent advances in heart failure management have improved survival rates for patients who develop end stage heart failure that requires cardiac transplantation. This article will serve as an overview of the physiology, etiologies, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of heart failure in children.

Step One: READ ALL INFORMATION BELOW

Target Audience

This article would be ideal for all pediatricians and primary care providers.

Educational Objectives

After reading this article, you should be able to:

• Identify common etiologies of heart failure in children.
• Recognize signs and symptoms of heart failure in children.
• Understand the treatment options available for heart failure in children.

Estimated Time to Complete

1 hour

Method of Participation

There are no fees to participate and receive CME credit for this activity. Participants must read the objectives and faculty disclosures, study the educational activity, complete the posttest by recording the best answer, register, and complete the evaluation. A statement of hours completed will then be issued on this Web site.

Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital. The University of Minnesota is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Minnesota designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure Statements

Authors

Rebecca Ameduri, MD
Disclosure: Dr. Ameduri has nothing to disclose

Elizabeth Braunlin, MD
Disclosure: Dr. Braunlin has nothing to disclose

Editor

Danielle Johnson
Disclosure: Danielle Johnson has nothing to disclose

Planning Committee Member

Beverly Smith-Patterson
Disclosure: Beverly Smith-Patterson has nothing to disclose

Disclosure Policy

It is the policy of the University of Minnesota Office of Continuing Medical Education to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its sponsored educational activities. All participating faculty, faculty, course directors, and planning committee members are required to disclose to the program audience any financial relationships related to the subject matter of this program. It is not necessary to disclose relationships with non-profit or government organizations or proprietary entities that do not produce health care goods or services. Relationships of spouse/partner with proprietary entities producing health care goods or services should be disclosed if they are of a nature that may influence the objectivity of the individual in a position to control the content of the CME activity. Disclosure information is reviewed in advance to manage and resolve any possible conflicts of interest. Specific disclosure information for each course faculty will be shared with the audience prior to the faculty's presentation.

Commercial Support

There is no commercial support for this activity.

Feedback

For feedback or questions, or for technical concerns, contact us at 612-626-7600 or cme@umn.edu.

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Step Two: READ THE ARTICLE

Step Three: TAKE THE POSTTEST (if you have already read the article)