Serial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for guidance of therapy management in patients treated with anakinra due to recurrent pericarditis.

Aims: To determine the utility of serial cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for guidance of therapy management in patients treated with anakinra due to recurrent pericarditis (RP), compared with C-reactive protein (CRP) assay alone.

Methods And Results: In 2018-21, we enrolled 18 (14.5 ± 1.

Coronary unroofing does not fits all anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries.

Introduction: Anomalous aortic origin of coronary artery (AAOCA) is the second leading cause of sudden cardiac death in children and young adults. Intramural-interarterial course is the most frequent anatomic variation and coronary unroofing is widest adopted for surgical management. Symptoms recurrence is described regardless of the technique used.

Foetal ductus arteriosus constriction unrelated to non-steroidal anti-Inflammatory drugs: a case report and literature review.

Foetal ductus arteriosus (DA) constriction can be found in complex foetal heart malformations, but rarely as an isolated defect. Although many cases of DA constriction are usually related to Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) maternal intake, other causes remain without an established aetiology and are referred to as idiopathic. Recently, a wide range of risks factors or substances (polyphenol-rich foods intake, naphazoline, fluoxetine, caffeine and pesticides) showed a definitive effect upon the pathway of inflammation, causing DA constriction.

Echocardiographic changes and quality of life after surgical unroofing of myocardial bridges.

Objective: To examine the echocardiographic changes and quality of life (QoL) after surgical unroofing of myocardial bridges (MBs) involving the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery compared with optimal medical therapy (OMT).

Methods: Twenty-two patients (median age, 24 years; interquartile range, 16-40 years) with MBs of the LAD artery and exertional angina from 2018 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Twelve patients underwent OMT and 10 underwent surgery.

Echocardiographic screening for the anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries.

Aims: We sought to determine the diagnostic performance, clinical profiles and outcomes of anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries (AAOCA) using a standardised echocardiographic approach in young adults and athletes.

Methods: In 2015-2019, we screened 5998 outpatients (age 16 years (Q1-Q3: 11, 36)), referred for routine echocardiography, using four specific echocardiographic windows: parasternal short/long axis and apical 4/5-chambers view. Coronary CT confirmed AAOCA.

[Cardiologists and mucopolysaccharidoses. Recommendations of GICEM (Cardiology Experts on Metabolic Disease Italian Group) for diagnosis, follow-up and cardiological management].

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) represent a group of rare lysosomal storage disorders, with a heterogeneous clinical presentation in terms of inheritance (autosomal and X-linked recessive), age of onset (infants, children, and adults), systemic and cardiac manifestations (mild to severe disease forms). Evidence-based recommendations on the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease in MPS are scarce. GICEM (Gruppo Italiano Cardiologi Esperti Malattie Metaboliche) is a group of cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and pediatricians with a specific expertise in metabolic diseases including MPS.

Pulmonary artery banding: when is the use of a telemetrically adjustable device indicated?

Proponents of a telemetrically adjustable pulmonary artery band (PAB) device have cited simplified postoperative management and shortened length of stay as advantages associated with that technology. This report concerns a recent experience with both conventional pulmonary artery banding (conv-PAB) and the telemetrically adjustable PAB FloWatch (FW-PAB). From January 2005 through December 2008, 19 consecutive infants underwent either conv-PAB (8 patients, mean age 3.

Valve repair in congenital aortic valve abnormalities.

Many surgical techniques have been described either to repair and to replace the aortic valve. Among the paediatric population the potential for growth has to be preserved and valve reconstruction is therefore of great importance. In the last two years 25 consecutive patients, mean age 8.

Reimplantation of an anomalous coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery.

A case of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in a patient with the origin of the coronary opposite to the aorta is reported. Between many surgical options we conclude to reestablish a double coronary system reconnecting the coronary through a conduit created with a pulmonary wall baffle and an autologous pericardial patch.

Edge-to-edge technique: is it also useful in children?

Objective: Mitral valve prolapse is a rare condition and represents a challenge for cardiac surgeons. Many techniques have been described to treat the wide spectrum of abnormalities causing mitral valve regurgitation but the low incidence of these abnormalities is the cause of the relatively poor experience of many institutions.

Methods: From April 2005 to September 2006, five patients underwent isolated mitral valve repair with the edge-to-edge technique for anterior or bileaflet prolapse.