Dr. Overholt studies how various heart conditions impact young patients, specifically focusing on conditions such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome and dilated cardiomyopathy. He investigates techniques and interventions that can effectively manage complications arising from these conditions, including the use of stents in the urinary tract to stop bleeding and specific procedures to rectify abnormal blood flow in the heart. In addition to heart issues, he also researches throat problems and the effects of medications during pregnancy, ensuring that treatments remain safe for both mothers and their babies.
Key findings
In a case of severe kidney hemorrhage in a child, the placement of a urinary stent effectively stopped the bleeding, saving the child's life and kidney.
For a patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, an interventional procedure successfully treated abnormal coronary connections, resolving exercise-related symptoms.
A 7-year-old girl with dilated cardiomyopathy had a large blood clot that disappeared following treatment of a narrowed aorta, indicating successful management of severe heart issues.
15 out of 15 patients with macroreentrant right atrial tachycardia were successfully treated using radiofrequency energy, with most showing no further arrhythmias after 13.5 months.
Evidence from a case report indicated that bretylium tosylate used during pregnancy did not lead to side effects for the mother or baby, suggesting safe treatment options for pregnant women.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Overholt study children's heart conditions?
Yes, Dr. Overholt specializes in treating various heart conditions in children, including hypoplastic left heart syndrome and dilated cardiomyopathy.
What treatments has Dr. Overholt researched for young patients?
He has researched innovative procedures for managing heart conditions, including interventions that can resolve significant issues like coronary artery steal and excessive heart rhythm problems.
Is Dr. Overholt's work relevant to patients with throat issues?
Yes, he has published work on managing throat problems such as vocal process granuloma, providing treatment insights beneficial for patients suffering from throat irritation.
Are treatments studied by Dr. Overholt safe for pregnant women?
His research includes the safety of heart medications during pregnancy, showing that certain treatments can be used without harm to both the mother and the baby.
What is a macroreentrant right atrial tachycardia?
It is a type of abnormal heart rhythm that can occur after heart surgery, and Dr. Overholt's findings show effective ways to treat it.
Publications in plain English
Pediatric Ureteral Stent Placement to Manage Right Kidney Hemorrhage Following Coarctation Angioplasty.
2019
Journal of endourology case reports
Rosenzweig M, Frimberger D, Thompson J, Burkhart H, Overholt E +1 more
Plain English This study focuses on a young child who experienced severe bleeding from the kidney after a heart procedure. The doctors used unique methods to place a stent in the child's urinary system, which effectively stopped the bleeding and saved both the child's life and kidney. This finding is important because it shows a successful treatment approach for life-threatening complications in pediatric patients.
Who this helps: This helps doctors treating children with similar medical emergencies.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome with coronary-cameral fistulas: Echocardiographic demonstration of coronary artery steal and successful interventional treatment.
2017
Annals of pediatric cardiology
Mir A, Niu M, Yamada M, Overholt E
Plain English This study looked at a patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious heart condition, who had abnormal connections between the coronary arteries and the heart chambers. The researchers found that these connections caused a problem called coronary steal, leading to exercise-related symptoms. After using a special procedure to block the abnormal connections, the patient's symptoms went away.
Who this helps: This helps patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and their doctors.
Severe reversible dilated cardiomyopathy associated with a large left ventricular thrombus in a young child with middle aortic syndrome.
2014
Images in paediatric cardiology
Ponniah U, Overholt E
Plain English This study looked at a 7-year-old girl who had a serious heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) along with a large blood clot in her heart. After treating her narrowed aorta with a successful procedure, the blood clot disappeared after she received heparin, and she did not have any lasting issues. This is significant because it shows that timely intervention can effectively treat severe heart issues in young children.
Who this helps: This helps young patients with heart conditions and their doctors.
Characterization of reentrant circuit in macroreentrant right atrial tachycardia after surgical repair of congenital heart disease: isolated channels between scars allow "focal" ablation.
2001
Circulation
Nakagawa H, Shah N, Matsudaira K, Overholt E, Chandrasekaran K +9 more
Plain English This study looked at a type of heart rhythm problem called macroreentrant right atrial tachycardia in patients who had heart surgery for congenital issues. Researchers found that this condition was linked to many scarred areas in the heart, forming narrow channels through which the abnormal heart rhythms traveled. In their findings, 15 out of 15 cases of macroreentrant tachycardia were successfully treated with a specific procedure that used radiofrequency energy to target these channels, leading to no further arrhythmia in most patients over a follow-up period of about 13.5 months.
Who this helps: This information benefits patients who have had surgery for congenital heart problems and are experiencing abnormal heart rhythms.
Plain English This paper looks at a throat problem called vocal process granuloma, which occurs in the back of the voice box and can cause irritation. It found that the best ways to treat this issue include reducing throat irritation through managing acid reflux and changing harmful vocal habits. Surgery is only recommended when other treatments don't work or if there's a risk of airway blockage.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients suffering from throat issues and healthcare providers managing these conditions.
Oral bretylium tosylate use during pregnancy and subsequent breastfeeding: a case report.
1990
American journal of perinatology
Gutgesell M, Overholt E, Boyle R
Plain English This report studied the effects of using bretylium tosylate, a medication often prescribed for a heart condition, during a 39-year-old woman's pregnancy and while breastfeeding. The findings showed that both her pregnancy and delivery were normal, and the baby did not experience any side effects from the medication. This is important because it provides reassurance about the safety of this treatment in pregnant women with heart issues.
Who this helps: This information is helpful for pregnant women with long QT syndrome and their doctors.