Innovation District: Our Top 10 of 2019

Innovation District's Top 10 of 2019 Innovation District showcases the latest and greatest in pediatric research and clinical innovations from Children’s National Hospital. In case you missed them, here are the most read Innovation District research stories from 2019.

VR allows surgical planning from every angle Neurosurgeons at Children’s National are getting a new three-dimensional (3D) perspective on their cases thanks to an FDA-approved breakthrough virtual reality surgical system. The technology seamlessly integrates patient-specific surgical planning and navigation, professional education and rehearsal. Studying the impact of later school start times After studying sleep trends in nearly 1,000 seventh and eighth-grade students in 11 middle schools, Daniel Lewin, Ph.D., published a study entitled “Later Start, Longer Sleep: Implications of Middle School Start Times” in the Journal of School Health, which outlines the benefits of delaying school start times. Urinary bacteria in spinal cord injury cases may tip balance toward UTIs The fallout from spinal cord injury doesn’t end with loss of mobility: Patients can have a range of other issues resulting from this complex problem. One of the most serious implications is urinary tract infections (UTIs), the most common cause of repeat hospitalization in people with spinal cord injuries. Breakthrough device objectively measures pain type and intensity Pediatric anesthesiologist Julia C. Finkel, M.D., has developed AlgometRx, a first-of-its-kind handheld device that measures a patient’s pupillary response and, using proprietary algorithms, provides a diagnostic measurement of pain intensity, and type. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta.) Getting micro-preemie growth trends on track According to research presented during the Institute for Healthcare Improvement 2018 Scientific Symposium, standardizing feeding practices – including the timing for fortifying breast milk and formula with essential elements like zinc and protein – improves growth trends for the tiniest preterm infants. Doctors give Jake his life back At the age of 17, Jake underwent surgery led by neurosurgeon Chima Oluigbo, M.D. He conducted a temporal lobe resection, also called temporal lobectomy, that works to lower the number of seizures, make them less severe or stop them completely. The surgery was successful and Jake got his life back. Spinal-halo-gravity traction times three Because spinal-halo-gravity traction is often challenging for patients, the orthopaedic surgery team at Children's National tries to coordinate cases so that when possible, patients can support each other throughout the process. Recently, for the first time ever, the team had three traction patients on similar trajectories on the unit at the same time. Preserving brain function by inducing strokes By inflicting controlled, targeted strokes, Children’s National physician-researchers have treated five newborns born with intractable seizures due to hemimegalencephaly before they’re eligible for epilepsy surgery. In the four surviving infants, the procedures drastically reduced or completely relieved the infants' uncontrollable seizures. Researchers receive $2.5M grant to optimize brain development in babies with CHD Richard Jonas, M.D., Catherine Bollard, M.B.Ch.B., M.D., and Nobuyuki Ishibashi, M.D., have been awarded a $2.5 million, three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct a single-center clinical trial at Children’s National. Decision support tool reduces unneeded referrals of low-risk patients with chest pain A simple evidence-based change to standard practice could avert needless referrals of low-risk patients to cardiac specialists, potentially saving nearly $4 million in annual health care spending while also easing worried parents’ minds.

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