Optimizing pre-participation screening to prevent tragedy in young athletes: moving from if to how.

Optimization of preparticipation screening for young athletes. Much progress has been made in improving the utility of basic cardiac screening programmes. Sarto, et al. address incompletely answered questions regarding optimal screening frequency, appropriate timing of initial screening, and the need for testing modalities in addition to history, physical, and ECG. To further optimize these programmes' benefits and costs, additional study regarding management plans for athletes with findings, validation of current ECG screening criteria in young children, and cost reduction strategies is needed. ECG, electrocardiogram.