The Annals of Pediatric Cardiology is being launched with the idea of providing a common platform for presenting data and expressing views for members of the following specialties viz. cardiology, cardiac surgery, anesthesiology, intensive care as well as more basic disciplines of pathology, molecular biology and genetics. We would also like this journal to be a medium for discussing related issues like medical education, paramedical training, healthcare costs, human resources, medical practices in economically challenged countries, ethics in medicine and so on. We plan to publish a teaching series on clinico-morphological correlation and hemodynamic rounds for post graduates and fellows in Pediatric Cardiology

The Annals of Pediatric Cardiology will have 2 issues in 2008 and 3 issues per year thereafter depending on the response of our readers and contributors.

The journal format includes the following:

• Original articles
• Brief Communications
• Images
• Vignettes
• Case reports in specific categories such as postoperative/interventional complications, diagnostic dilemmas, technical challenges in the Operating Room / Catheterization Laboratory
• How I do it
• Point-counter point
• State of the art (invited) articles
• Reviews
• Selected Summaries

The format will be flexible and is liable to evolve according to readers’ needs and critical appraisal of colleagues and peers.

All manuscripts submitted to the Journal will undergo a review process which will be blinded and therefore unbiased. The manuscript management system will be fully electronic to make the process of submission and review convenient and efficient.

Bibliographic listings:

The journal is indexed with Caspur, CINAHL, DOAJ, EBSCO Publishing’s Electronic Databases, Excerpta Medica / EMBASE, Expanded Academic ASAP, Genamics JournalSeek, Google Scholar, Health & Wellness Research Center, Health Reference Center Academic, Hinari, Index Copernicus, Indian Science Abstracts, OpenJGate, SCOLOAR, SIIC databases, Ulrich’s International Periodical Directory

Pediatric Cardiac Society of India

The Pediatric Cardiac Society of India came into existence in 1999. At that time only a handful of cardiologists and cardiac surgeon numbering about a dozen were focusing exclusively on pediatric cardiac care. The society was created recognizing the urgent need to develop the specialty in India. The major goals of the society were to promote the growth and development of pediatric cardiac care in India and to improve awareness about diagnosis and management of heart diseases in children among pediatricians. The society was unique in that it included all facets of pediatric heart care – pediatric cardiology, cardiac surgery, anesthesia and intensive care. The first annual conference was held at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in 1999. Apart from the annual conferences several CME programs for pediatricians have been conducted all over the country.

The last few years have been significant for pediatric heart care in India. The society has contributed substantially to the improved awareness about the unique requirements for taking care of children with heart disease. The specialty of pediatric cardiology is now recognized as a distinct specialty. Training programs are now established in many major centers in the country. The number of centers with dedicated pediatric heart care facilities has increased and the there has been a substantial increase in the number of operations and interventional procedures being performed for children with congenital heart disease. However, a lot more needs to be done for children with heart disease in India. Major challenges today include the need to improved access to pediatric heart care in vast areas of central, eastern and north-eastern parts of India, continued efforts towards improving quality of care, obtaining reliable epidemiologic information and, addressing the substantial shortfall of pediatric cardiac professionals, especially cardiac surgeons.

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