Performance of an autonomous telemonitoring system in children and young adults with congenital heart diseases.

Background: Integrated telemonitoring systems controlling circulatory and electrical parameters in adults with an implanted pacemaker have shown to be advantageous during follow-up of this patient group. In children and young adults with a congenital heart disease (CHD), these systems have to cope with a diversity of varying arrhythmias and a broad range of intrinsic cardiac parameters. Additional problems arise from the patients' growth and anatomic anomalies.

Survival after surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in low weight patients.

To evaluate risk factors for hospital death in patients weighing < 2.5 kg undergoing open-heart surgery, records of 34 consecutive low-weight patients operated on between December 1997 and November 2004 were reviewed. Mean weight was 2.

Compared fate of small-diameter Contegras and homografts in the pulmonary position.

Objective: This study analyzes whether small-diameter Contegras behave in the same way as small-diameter homografts, when implanted for the first time in pulmonary position.

Methods: Small-diameter conduits include 12 and 14 mm Contegras and 8-14 mm homografts. Graft dysfunction is defined as right ventricular outflow tract obstruction with peak echo-Doppler gradient>40 mmHg, or grade III/IV graft regurgitation.

Twenty years experience of surgical aortic valvotomy for critical aortic stenosis in early infancy.

Objective: To examine early and long-term results of surgical aortic valvotomy in neonates and infants aged less than 3 months.

Methods: A review of all 34 neonates (n=26) and young infants (n=8) aged 1-62 days undergoing primary open valvotomy for aortic valve stenosis between 1983 and 2003 was carried out. Associated major cardiac anomalies were endocardial fibroelastasis (n=8), aortic coarctation (n=3), subvalvular aortic stenosis (n=2), and ventricular septal defect (n=1).

Comprehensive Aristotle score: implications for the Norwood procedure.

Background: Aristotle score is emerging as a reliable tool to measure surgical performance. We estimated the comprehensive Aristotle score for the Norwood procedure, correlated it with survival, and considered its impact on surgical management of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Methods: Comprehensive Aristotle score was retrospectively calculated for 39 consecutive Norwood procedures performed from 2001 to 2004.

Optimal pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratio for best hemodynamic status and outcome early after Norwood operation.

Objective: Imbalances of pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratio (Q(p)/Q(s)) compounded with inadequate systemic oxygen delivery correlate with mortality after first-stage Norwood palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Mathematical models suggest that maximal systemic oxygen delivery occurs with Q(p)/Q(s) of less than 1. Whether this applies to clinical practice is unclear.

Repair of truncus arteriosus and aortic arch interruption: outcome analysis.

Background: The excellent results for repair of truncus arteriosus reported in some centers have not applied to patients with associated interrupted aortic arch. This work aims at understanding the discrepancy of results in our own experience.

Patients And Methods: Ten patients among 83 consecutive children with truncus arteriosus repaired from 1987 to September 2004 who had aortic arch interruption were analyzed, with particular emphasis on clinical presentation and outcome.

Results of arterial switch operation for primary total correction of the Taussig-Bing anomaly.

Background: This study evaluates the results of the arterial switch operation for early total repair of double-outlet right ventricle with subpulmonary ventricular septal defect (the Taussig-Bing heart).

Methods: From 1986 through April 2003, 27 patients with Taussig-Bing anomaly underwent arterial switch operation. Twenty patients were neonates (n = 11) or infants younger than 3 months (n = 9).