Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery
Vol.25 No.2 2009 (126-132)

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Lynn Mahony

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

Abstract

The Pediatric Heart Network (PHN) was established by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a component of the National Institutes of Health in the United States in 2001. The purposes of this paper are to describe the structure and function of the PHN, and to review the ongoing studies. The PHN infrastructure is now well-developed and capable of implementing complex, multicenter protocols efficiently and recruiting subjects effectively. To date, five randomized clinical trials and three observational studies have been implemented. The results of these and other studies from the PHN will contribute to providing evidence-based medicine for, and improving the outcomes of pediatric patients with cardiovascular disease.