Introducing the International Challenging Pediatric Stroke Case Conference!

Oct 27, 2020

By Megan Barry and Mukta Sharma.

Pediatric stroke management can be challenging due to the wide range of etiologies, rarity of stroke at a single institution and need for collaboration with many different disciplines to achieve the best outcome for a child.  The majority of pediatric hospitals around the world lack pediatric stroke experts, which leaves most providers to educate themselves on optimal management of children with stroke. However, some management issues lack evidence or consensus-based recommendations, resulting in a search for expert opinion. Prior to the creation of IPSO, the International Pediatric Stroke study (IPSS) investigators have received and continue to receive multiple requests each year for assistance in the evaluation and treatment of challenging childhood stroke cases around the world.  Among stroke experts, case discussions at the formal IPSS meetings has provided an excellent avenue to seek advice and share knowledge. However, the creation of IPSO has facilitated a larger global platform of pediatric stroke experts that can address this need.

During the first IPSO Education Committee meeting, the primary concern of the group was to bring education to providers across all disciplines to learn about the best care of children with stroke.  Based on the success of case presentations at the formal IPSS meetings biannually, the idea for a monthly international challenging case conference was proposed by the group. The ability to connect virtually through the current pandemic has made the world smaller and easier to collaborate. For the medical community, this has resulted in the establishment of various long-distance online avenues to connect both with each other and with experts in the field. By means of monthly international challenging case conferences, we hope to provide pediatric stroke education across multiple specialties around the globe.  We hope that this new educational forum will further help in developing strong and new connections among IPSO members around the world.

The international pediatric stroke challenging case conference will be 1-hour in duration and held monthly via ZOOM, a widely used web-based audio and video platform. Two to three cases will be presented at each case conference, with 10 minutes for case presentation and 10-15 minutes for case discussion. IPSO members will be able to submit cases for presentation through an online form. Members will also be able to request a specific specialty that would be most helpful to answer the question. Submitted cases will be reviewed and selected for presentation by the IPSO Education Committee.  The committee will try their best to accommodate the IPSO member requests.  A panel of pediatric stroke specialists will be chosen by the Education Committee based on cases submitted to help guide the discussion. IPSO Education Committee members will moderate the discussion among the presenters and the experts. All other participants will be able to contribute through the chat box.  Each case conference will also be recorded and stored in a members-only portal on the IPSO web site for future educational use.

The Education Committee is excited to launch this new formal educational opportunity for all IPSO members involved in the care of children with stroke. We look forward to the insightful discussions and seeing you all at our first international case conference on October 27, 2020 at 10:00 am PST/1:00pm EST/7:00pm EUR.

Please submit your cases here!

Megan Barry, DO

Megan Barry, DO

Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Megan Barry, DO, is a pediatric vascular neurologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado.  She works as a pediatric neurohospitalist and adult vascular neurologist.  She is co-chair for the Challenging Case Conference task force and member of the education committee.

Mukta Sharma, MD, MPH

Mukta Sharma, MD, MPH

Children's Mercy Adele Hall Campus

Mukta Sharma, MD, MPH, is pediatric hematology stroke director at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, MO. She is chair of IPSO Education Committee and serves as co-chair for the Challenging Case Conference task force.

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