Near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring to predict postoperative renal insufficiency following repair of congenital heart disease.

Background: Infants undergoing repair or palliation of congenital heart disease are at risk of renal insufficiency. Development of renal insufficiency increases mortality. This project seeks to determine whether intra- and postoperative renal near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring can reliably predict renal insufficiency after cardiac surgery in infants.

Low plasma D-dimer concentration predicts the absence of traumatic brain injury in children.

Background: Head Computerized Tomography (CT) has significant risks, especially in children. To reduce this burden, we sought to develop a biomarker panel that predicts the absence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on head CT.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort observational study followed by validation in a retrospective cohort at a regional pediatric trauma center.

Peak atrial systolic mitral annular velocity by Doppler tissue reliably predicts left atrial systolic function.

Left atrial (LA) function assessment is important in clinical practice. We studied peak atrial tissue velocity (A') and quantitative echocardiographic methods of LA function in 120 patients (54 men; mean age 58 years) who were in sinus rhythm. Patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with increased left ventricular mass; and healthy subjects.