Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron

AKRON, Ohio, April 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Akron Children's, Cincinnati Children's, University of Michigan and Dayton Children's Hospital, have found that hypothermic therapy reduces symptom severity after concussion. In a study published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, researchers found that providing selective surface cooling to specific areas in the head and neck after mild brain injury reduced Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT5) symptom scores by 14% after initial treatment with pro2cool's hypothermic therapy. After a second treatment using the pro2cool® system, SCAT5 scores were 25% lower than those receiving standard concussion care. Study participants were aged 12-19, had received a concussion within eight days of study enrollment, and were placed in one of two groups: one using the standard treatment of care – rest; and the other receiving two treatments with the pro2cool system. Following the initial evaluation and treatment, the groups were further evaluated at later time points – 72 hours, 10 days, and 28 days – with the second round of treatment occurring at 72 hours. It is the first and only concussion treatment study of this population, and the largest single concussion therapy trial known to date. "Traditionally, ice has been used to reduce pain and swelling in muscle injuries," said Dr. Joseph Congeni, director of sports medicine at Akron Children's and lead study investigator at Akron Children's Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute. "Now, this research – along with our previously published pilot study using pro2cool – has found the same to be true for concussions. Sports-related concussions are a significant problem in children aged 12 to 17 in the U.S. About 80%-90% of sports-related concussion symptoms in adolescents resolve in 17 to 28 days, longer than the seven- to 10-day recovery time for adults. And while safeguards continue to be put in place to prevent concussions, little has been done to change the treatment of care for a concussion when one does happen. Traditionally, adolescent concussions have been treated with brain rest – refraining from strenuous physical and mental tasks – until symptoms resolve. Now, in addition to brain rest, concussion symptoms can be treated with selective hypothermic therapy. "We know from what we see on athletic fields and the feedback we receive from parents and kids that brain rest isn't enough," said Dr. Congeni. "The results of this study show the standard of concussion care can be improved upon." This study has important clinical implications: Adolescents with concussions may benefit from receiving multiple treatments with the pro2cool® system to reduce the severity of their symptoms. The pro2cool system used to deliver the therapy is well-tolerated, indicating an initial positive safety profile absent of major adverse effects. "While this publication marks the end of this particular study, the work has just begun," said Dr. Matthew Smith, staff scientist, Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute at Akron Children's and assistant professor, co-director, Basic and Translational Biomedicine Graduate Program, Northeast Ohio Medical University. "There are a variety of questions left to be explored, for example, 'If we use the device to treat sooner, more often, and for longer, then can we improve/maximize the clinical benefit?' Additionally, understanding how these therapeutic effects are achieved at the biological level will be critical in creating personalized treatment protocols for each patient." TecTraum Inc., the makers of the smart technology pro2cool, supplied the device used in the study, which is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Citation: Smith, Matthew A. MS, PhD, McNinch, Neil L. MS, RN, PSTAT, et al. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine Epub ahead of print January 5, 2024 DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000001198 About Akron Children's Akron Children's is an independent, nonprofit pediatric health care system that has been caring for children since 1890. With two hospital campuses, seven regional health centers, and more than 50 primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio, we are the only health care system in our region fully dedicated to pediatric care. With our vast network of Akron Children's Pediatrics offices, we offer convenient access to expert pediatric primary care for patients from infancy through young adulthood. From our School-Based Health Care to our Quick Care Online® virtual visits and Akron Children's Anywhere app, we make it easy for today's busy families to find the high-quality care they need. In 2023, our health care system provided nearly 1.4 million patient encounters and employed more than 7,000 employees. Learn more at akronchildrens.org. SOURCE Akron Children's Hospital

AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akron Children's Hospital and GlobalCastMD will co-host the Second World Congress on Cardioneuroablation, a live, virtual conference, on Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. EDT, 8 a.m. PDT. Moderated by Drs. José Carlos Pachón and John Clark, both pioneers in cardioneuroablation (CNA), they will discuss their successes in treating patients with slow heart rhythms and conditions such as vasovagal syncope, intermittent heart block, and sinus node dysfunction. Dr. Pachón is director of the São Paulo Heart Hospital Arrhythmia Service in São Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Clark is director of electrophysiology at Akron Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio. "CNA was discovered in the late 1990s when cardiologists were first learning how to do ablations on atrial fibrillations," said Dr. Clark. "Some took note that, in certain areas where they were trying to ablate the atrial fibrillation, they would alter the patient's heart rate. In later investigations, we learned those areas have heavy input from the vagus nerve – the nerve that tells the heart to slow down. Dr. Pachón put this together - that we could use the same procedure to help patients whose heart rates are too slow." After several trips to Brazil to train under Dr. Pachón, Dr. Clark added his own expertise to the collaboration: That most all of the CNA procedures can be performed without fluoroscopy, thus eliminating the patient's exposure to radiation. During the conference, Drs. Pachón and Clark will review outcome data from the past 20 years and present case studies of patients who were good candidates for CNA, patients whose lives had previously been upended by uncontrolled fainting and seizures. Participants will also get to "virtually" shadow them at work in their cardiac catheterization labs. This conference is suggested for not only electrophysiologists and cardiologists, but also neurologists, general medicine practitioners, emergency medicine physicians, pediatricians, and allied health professionals. For more information, go to . To register, go to GCMD.CO/EPCONFERENCE. About Akron Children's Akron Children's is an independent, nonprofit pediatric health care system that has been caring for children in northeast Ohio since 1890. With two hospital campuses, six regional health centers and more than 50 primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio, we are making it easier for today's busy families to find the high-quality care they need. We also operate neonatal and pediatric units in the hospitals of our regional health care partners. In 2022, our health care system provided more than 1.3 million patient encounters. Every year, our Akron Children's Home Care nurses provide thousands of in-home visits, and our School-Based Health Center nurses manage clinic visits for students from preschool through high school. With our Quick Care Online virtual visits and Akron Children's Anywhere app, we are here for families whenever and wherever they need us. Learn more at akronchildrens.org. SOURCE Akron Children's Hospital

AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kristi Bogan, MD, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Distinguished Woman in Healthcare in the medical field and for her work as a Pediatric Interventional Radiologist at Akron Children's Hospital. Specializing in vascular anomalies, Dr. Bogan is a caring and compassionate pediatric interventional radiologist working at Akron Children's Hospital in Akron, OH. She has been practicing pediatric interventional and diagnostic radiology for more than 6 years with the past two years dedicated at Akron Children's Hospital. Continue Reading Kristi Bogan From performing biopsies, joint injections and angiography to treating vascular malformations, she deals with a wide array of childhood conditions by providing minimally invasive solutions for children that offer faster recovery times with less pain and scarring risk than traditional surgeries. After a hard day's work, Dr. Bogan enjoys reflecting on the patients she was able to help. After all, success in her view is being and effective healer and enjoying happiness from a job well done. She began her medical degree at Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara where she enjoyed the culture and learned the language for two and a half wonderful years eventually graduating early from Ross University. Dr. Bogan went on to complete her 5 year residency in radiology at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT which is affiliated with the Frank H. Netter, MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. She then moved back to her hometown of Dallas, TX where she completed an extra two years of specialized training in Pediatric Diagnostic radiology and Pediatric Interventional radiology at The University of Texas Southwestern. She now enjoys life in Akron, OH with her two corgis Asscher and Sophie, where she likes to relax by cooking and painting. Aside from her full-time job as a pediatric diagnostic and interventional radiologist she enjoys pursuing an entrepreneurial part-time career in adult aesthetics in Stow, OH, which allows her to combine her procedural skills with her creative side. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who