National survey found that paediatricians frequently used messaging apps to hold informal consultations with parents and patients.

Aim: Paediatricians using instant messaging phone apps for informal medical discussions poses ethical and legal risks. We filled a gap in the research, by assessing the use of apps and the possible risks.

Methods: A national, cross-sectional, questionnaire study was conducted in Israel from 11 August to 20 November 2019.

The Effect of Stenting on Post-Stenotic Dilatation in Coarctation of The Aorta.

The effect of stenting of native aortic coarctation (CoA) on post-stenotic dilatation (PSD) has not been previously described. We hypothesized that CoA stenting may lead to positive remodeling of PSD. Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent stent implantation for native CoA from 1999 to 2021 was performed.

Cardiac involvement and its clinical significance in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Unlabelled: Cardiac complications are a major concern in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) which contribute to morbidity and mortality. However, limited information exists regarding risk factors for the development of these complications. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of cardiac involvement among children and adolescents with AN admitted to a tertiary pediatric hospital.

Three-Patch Reconstruction of Hourglass Supravalvar Pulmonary Artery Stenosis Mid-Term Results.

Background: Some patients with pulmonary stenosis present with a complex multilevel disease that involves the valve, the leaflets, and the sinotubular junction (STJ) forming an hourglass appearance. We herein report the mid-term results of our experience with the reconstruction of the supravalvar narrowing using three pericardial patches.

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis of patient charts and echocardiography studies of patients who underwent three-patch reconstruction of the pulmonary valve (PV) from 2013 to 2022.

The Amplatzer duct occluder (ADOII) and Piccolo devices for patent ductus arteriosus closure: a large single institution series.

Purpose: Evaluate Piccolo and ADOII devices for transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure. Piccolo has smaller retention discs reducing risk of flow disturbance but residual leak and embolization risk may increase.

Methods: Retrospective review of all patients undergoing PDA closure with an Amplatzer device between January 2008 and April 2022 in our institution.

Long COVID in Children: Observations From a Designated Pediatric Clinic.

Systematic data are lacking on pediatric long COVID. This study prospectively assessed 90 children with persistent symptoms who presented to a designated multidisciplinary clinic for long COVID. In nearly 60%, symptoms were associated with functional impairment at 1-7 months after the onset of infection.

Peripheral Venous Catheter-related Bloodstream Infections in Hospitalized Children: The Role of Gram-negative Bacteria.

Background: Peripheral venous catheter (PVC) is the most used vascular access device in medicine, allowing administration of intravenous fluids and medications. Known complications associated with PVC include extravasation, phlebitis and rarely bloodstream infection (BSI). Data regarding PVC-related BSI in children are lacking.

Transient Cardiac Injury in Adolescents Receiving the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine.

Background: Vaccines are paramount in the effort to end the coronavirus disease 2019 global epidemic. BNT162b2 is approved for the vaccination of adolescents over 16 years of age. Systemic adverse events were scarce though the pretested cohort of this age group was relatively small.

Clinical Features and Comparison of Kingella and Non-Kingella Endocarditis in Children, Israel.

Kingella spp. have emerged as an important cause of invasive pediatric diseases. Data on Kingella infective endocarditis (KIE) in children are scarce.

Hospitalization for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis in the Palivizumab Prophylaxis Era: Need for Reconsideration of Preventive Timing and Eligibility.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related bronchiolitis is a common cause of morbidity in young infants. The recommendations for its passive prevention by palivizumab are currently under intensive debate.

Objectives: To elucidate the optimal prevention strategy by studying the morbidity of RSV disease under the current recommendations for palivizumab prophylaxis in Israel.

Urgent Surgical Treatment of Aortic Endocarditis in Infants and Children.

Infective endocarditis (IE) in the pediatric population can present as a life-threatening condition. Optimal timing for surgical intervention should consider surgical risks versus the risk of neurologic complications. We herein report our experience with this group of critically ill children.

Plasma microvesicle analysis identifies microRNA 129-5p as a biomarker of heart failure in univentricular heart disease.

Biomarkers of heart failure in adults have been extensively studied. However, biomarkers to monitor the progression of heart failure in children with univentricular physiology are less well understood. We proposed that as mediators of diverse pathophysiology, miRNAs contained within circulating microvesicles could serve as biomarkers for the presence and progression of heart failure in univentricular patients.

Neonatal Cardiac Surgery in the New Era: Lessons learned from 1000 Consecutive Cases.

Background: neonatal cardiac surgery has evolved over the last 50 years with a large percentage of the patients achieving complete physiological repair in the neonatal period. The remaining patients achieve staged palliation with an increasing amount of success.

Objectives: To report our experience with 1000 neonatal cardiac surgical procedures performed in the last 10 years.

Extremely elevated C-reactive protein levels are associated with unfavourable outcomes, including death, in paediatric patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of extremely elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in hospitalised children.

Methods: We searched the electronic database of a tertiary paediatric medical centre for all patients admitted in 2010-2013 with a CRP of ≥ 30 mg/dL, and these comprised the study group. The controls were the other admissions.

Feasibility of neonatal pulse wave velocity and association with maternal hemoglobin A1c.

Background: Use of non-invasive peripheral arterial tonometry to assess arterial stiffness has not been studied in neonates. Perinatal factors impact childhood vascular health, but the effect in neonates remains to be examined.

Objectives: To examine the feasibility of pulse wave velocity (PWV) among healthy term neonates, and to evaluate the effects of perinatal factors on neonatal PWV.

Ebstein anomaly and Trisomy 21: A rare association.

This is a case report of a patient with Trisomy 21 with Ebstein anomaly, a ventricular septal defect, and acquired pulmonary vein stenosis; a rare combination, diagnosed during a routine neonatal examination.

The value of noninvasive measurement of the compensatory reserve index in monitoring and triage of patients experiencing minimal blood loss.

Currently available triage and monitoring tools are often late to detect life-threatening clinically significant physiological aberrations and provide limited data in prioritizing bleeding patients for treatment and evacuation. The Compensatory Reserve Index (CRI) is a novel means of assessing physiologic reserve, shown to correlate with central blood volume loss under laboratory conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare the noninvasive CRI device with currently available vital signs in detecting blood loss.

Arterial applanation tonometry: feasibility and reproducibility in children and adolescents.

Background: Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) are markers of vascular health and have recently been used in pediatric clinical trials. However, there are limited data on standardization of these measurements in pediatrics. The objective of this study was to prospectively test the feasibility and reproducibility of PWV and AIx in children and adolescents.

Prenatal tricuspid valve size as a predictor of postnatal outcome in patients with severe pulmonary stenosis or pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum.

Introduction: Tricuspid valve (TV) size at birth correlates with intervention strategy in patients with severe pulmonary stenosis (SPS) or pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS). Prenatal features that might predict postnatal TV size have not been well studied. We hypothesized that prenatal echocardiographic measurements predict the postnatal TV Z-score in fetuses with SPS and PA/IVS.

Expanding the phenotype of cardiovascular malformations in Adams-Oliver syndrome.

We describe a newborn with a phenotype consistent with Adams-Oliver syndrome and truncus arteriosus. Although cardiovascular malformations associated with this syndrome have been previously published in the literature, this is the first description of truncus arteriosus in a patient with Adams-Oliver syndrome. We review other reports of Adams-Oliver syndrome previously described with cardiovascular malformations, consider possible genetic and embryologic mechanisms, and emphasize the need for cardiology consultation when a diagnosis of Adams-Oliver syndrome is suspected in the differential diagnosis.

Echocardiographic predictors of early postsurgical myocardial dysfunction in pediatric patients with aortic valve insufficiency.

In chronic aortic insufficiency (AI), left-ventricular (LV) dysfunction must be detected early to allow timely surgery. Strain and strain rate have been used for this purpose in adults, but the value of this method in pediatric AI has not been established. Forty patients with moderate to severe AI were included in this retrospective study.

Tricuspid atresia with progressive ductal restriction in a fetus.

We report a unique case of tricuspid and pulmonary atresia with idiopathic progressive ductus arteriosus restriction in utero. Diligent predelivery planning and a controlled delivery environment led to a favorable outcome.

Prenatal diagnosis of atrial restriction in hypoplastic left heart syndrome is associated with decreased 2-year survival.

Objective: To compare the course of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) patients diagnosed prenatally with any degree of atrial restriction with those without evidence of atrial restriction.

Design: Retrospective, cohort.

Methods: Prenatally diagnosed HLHS patients from August 1999 to January 2009 were categorized as nonrestrictive versus restrictive, defined by left atrial hypertension on pulmonary venous Doppler and/or an intact interatrial septum.

Usefulness of B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide as biomarkers for heart failure in young children with single ventricle congenital heart disease.

Children with single ventricle (SV) physiology have increased ventricular work and are at risk of heart failure (HF). However, a HF diagnosis is especially difficult, because few objective measures of HF have been validated in this cohort. We have previously shown that plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are sensitive and specific for detecting HF in a small, heterogeneous SV cohort.