PSPC at the 8th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery

The 8th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery was held last August 27 to September 2, 2023 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, USA. It was attended by almost 6,000 delegates from all over the world, which included pediatric cardiologists, pediatric cardiac surgeons, intensivists and allied healthcare professionals. The faculty was comprised of 925 members from 92 countries, delivering almost a hundred lectures during the 5-day congress. There were 62 Filipino delegates who participated in the said conference, majority of whom are members of the Philippine Society of Pediatric Cardiology.

The event was a venue to share current knowledge and innovative researches about a vast number of topics in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. The Philippines was represented by several pediatric cardiology consultants and trainees in the convention’s research presentation in the diagnostic, interventional and surgical categories. The following is the list of researches presented by Filipino delegates during the World Congress:

• A Comparative Study of Pediatric Patients with Complete vs. Incomplete Kawasaki Disease in a Tertiary Hospital: an Eleven Year Review – Dr. Maria Ronella Francisco-Mallari
• Case of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract ObstructionFollowing Arterial Switch Operation in a 9 Year Old Female – Dr. Francesca Mae Talal-Rovillos
• Left Atrial Appendage Aneurysm: A Rare Case Report – Dr. Nicole Kris James
• An Uncommon Variant of the Most Common Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease: A Case Series of 3 Pediatric Patients with Tetralogy of Fallot, Absent Pulmonary Valve – Dr. Arlyn Contillep
• An Unusual Early Onset Complication of Tetralogy of Fallot Repair in an Eleven Year Old Child – Dr. Katrina Angelica Andoy
• Clinical Profile and Outcome of Children Diagnosed with Myocarditis in a Tertiary Government Hospital (A 10 Year Review) – Dr. Gerardine Casi
• Berry Syndrome: A Case Report of an Aorto-Pulmonary Variant – Dr. Therese Camille Cynthia Ocampo
• Tricuspid Valve Atresia and Bjork Procedure: A One and a Half Ventricular Repair – Dr. Rochelle Pamaran
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Infective Endocarditis of the Mitral Valve in a Nine Year Old: A Case Report – Dr. Leah Pagkalinawan
• The Knowledge, attitudes and Practices of Parents on the Congenital Heart Disease of their Children in a Tertiary Hospital – Dr. Rochelle Pamaran
• Vasoactive Inotrope Score (VIS) as Predictor of Outcome in Infants Who Underwent Cardiac Surgery at a Tertiary Hospital from January to December 2019 – Dr. Anne Bernadette Arangcon
• Isolated Absence of the Right Pulmonary Artery in a 6-month old INfant: A Case Report of a Rare Congenital Anomaly – Dr. Stacey Kaye Militante
• A Case Report of Haemophilus Influenzae Pericarditis in a Child with Primary Immunodeficiency – Dr. Leland Francisco Lukban
• Pseudoaneurysm of Brachiocephalic Artery with Superior Vena Cava Obstruction as a Late Complication Following Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt: A Case Report – Dr. Anna Patricia Veloso
• Infracardiac Total Anoamlous Pulmonary Venous Drainage in a 4 month old Male Infant: A Case Report – Dr. Caroline Shane Arnado
• Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Pediatric Patients with Thyrotoxic Heart Disease in a Tertiary Hospital in the Philippines: A 3 Year Review and Case Series – Dr. John Kenjie Bernardo
• Temporary Pacemaker Implantation via the Trans-umbilical Approach in a Premature Neonate with Congenital Complete Heart Block – Dr. Patricia Isabel De Leon
• RIght Ventricular Outflow Tract Stenting in an Adult with Unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot with Ventricular Dysfunction – Dr. Patricia Isabel De Leon
• Transcatheter Closure of Large Tubular PDA in symptomatic Infants Using the CheckFLOVascular Plug: A Case Series – Dr. Patricia Isabel De Leon
• Fascicular Ventricular Tachycardia from Ruptured Chordae Tendinae: An Atypical Case of Infective Endocarditis
• Idiosyncratic Atrioventricular Heart Block from Multiple Drug Overdose: A Toxicological Investigation – Dr. John Kenjie Bernardo
• Pediatric Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Supraventricular Tachycardia on a Child with Ebstein Anomaly and Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome – Dr. John Kenjie Bernardo
• Risk Factors for Decreased Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Post-Transcatheter Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Pediatric Filipino Patients in a Tertiary Government Hospital in the Philippines – Dr. Jan Kamille Coronel
• Efficacy of Maternal Hyperoxygenation on Fetuses with Congenital Heart Disease: A Meta-Analysis – Dr. Catherine Marie Jimenez
• Berry Syndrome: Successful Single Stage Repair – Dr. Patricia Isabel De Leon

The exhibitors also showcased interactive products and short activities for the Congress attendees. It was also another opportunity for participants to meet colleagues from other parts of the world and socialize with each other.

A tour of the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC was also offered to the Congress participants, in which some of the Filipino delegates joined.

During the World Congress, a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Pediatric Cardiac Society was held, with the objectives of reviewing the recently held APPCS Congress hosted by the Philippines and presenting the future activities of the society. In the said meeting, Dr. Juan Reganion, over-all Chairman of the 2023 APPCS Congress and immediate past president of the Philippine Society of Pediatric Cardiology, presented the highlights of the APPCS Congress. The next APPCS Congress in 2025 is to be held and hosted by Pakistan, represented by Professor Masood Sadiq. Professor Sadiq briefly showed the supposed venue of the congress in Pakistan and included some tourist spots which attendees can visit during their stay for the congress. Dr. Jonas Del Rosario, the head of the scientific committee, then introduced the APPCS Virtual Learning Academy which is intended to run over the next 2 years. The program was designed to include 10 topics, to be attended by panels of experts from the Asia Pacific. The host for the 2027 APPCS Congress was also announced during the meeting and it was awarded to Thailand, represented by Dr. Kritvikrom Durongpisitkul. Other matters concerning the society were also discussed towards the end of the meeting.

After years of not having face-to-face encounters, the congress was a timely event to bridge the gap not only in knowledge but also in physical distance that people all over the world endured as a consequence of the pandemic. The 5-day Congress was an absolute success in disseminating breakthrough knowledge in the field of pediatric cardiology and more importantly, in bringing together people who are equally passionate in improving the care for children with heart diseases.