Patterns of Aortic Dilation in Tetralogy of Fallot: An Analysis of 100 Fetal Echocardiograms Compared With Matched Controls.

Background Although aortic dilation is common in tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), its progression and risk of dissection are not well understood. The mechanism of dilation is primarily attributed to increased flow in utero; an alternative is unequal septation of the truncus arteriosus resulting in a larger aorta and inherently hypoplastic pulmonary artery (PA). If the latter is true, we hypothesize the aorta to PA ratio in TOF is stable throughout gestation, and sums of great artery dimensions are similar to controls.

Criteria for Early Pacemaker Implantation in Patients With Postoperative Heart Block After Congenital Heart Surgery.

Background: Guidelines recommend observation for atrioventricular node recovery until postoperative days (POD) 7 to 10 before permanent pacemaker placement (PPM) in patients with heart block after congenital cardiac surgery. To aid in surgical decision-making for early PPM, we established criteria to identify patients at high risk of requiring PPM.

Methods: We reviewed all cases of second degree and complete heart block (CHB) on POD 0 from August 2009 through December 2018.

Single center blind testing of a US multi-center validated diagnostic algorithm for Kawasaki disease in Taiwan.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. The major challenge in KD diagnosis is that it shares clinical signs with other childhood febrile control (FC) subjects. We sought to determine if our algorithmic approach applied to a Taiwan cohort.

Intraoperative epicardial echocardiography or transoesophageal echocardiography in CHD: how much does it matter?

Background: Intraoperative imaging determines the integrity of surgical repairs. Transoesophageal echocardiography represents standard care for intraoperative imaging in CHD. However, some conditions preclude its use, and epicardial echocardiography is used alternatively.

Artificial intelligence in perinatal diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease.

Prenatal diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease (CHD) has progressed substantially in the past few decades. Fetal echocardiography can accurately detect and diagnose approximately 85% of cardiac anomalies. The prenatal diagnosis of CHD results in improved care, with improved risk stratification, perioperative status and survival.

"Echo pause" for postoperative transthoracic echocardiographic surveillance.

Background: No guidelines exist for inpatient postoperative transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) surveillance in congenital heart disease. We prospectively evaluated indications for postoperative TTEs in patients with congenital heart disease to identify areas to improve upon (Phase 1) and then assessed the impact of a simple pilot intervention (Phase 2).

Methods: We included patients with RACHS-1 (Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery) scores of 2 and 3 to keep the cohort homogenous.

Bridge to success: A better method of cryoablation for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in children.

Background: Cryoablation for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is associated with higher recurrence rates than radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Junctional tachycardia marks procedural success with RFA, but no such indicator exists for cryoablation.

Objective: The purpose of this study as to determine the impact of voltage mapping plus longer ablation lesions on midterm success of cryoablation for children with AVNRT.

A Comparison of AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia in Young Children and Adolescents: Electrophysiology, Ablation, and Outcomes.

Background: Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) typically occurs in adolescents and adults with limited data regarding AVNRT in young children.

Methods: All patients with AVNRT who underwent electrophysiology study and ablation between 2005 and 2012 were retrospectively studied. Patients were stratified by age <10 years (young AVNRT) or ≥10 years (older AVNRT).

50 is the new 70: Short ventriculoatrial times are common in children with atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia.

Background: One of the basic electrophysiological principles of atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT) is that ventriculoatrial (VA) times during tachycardia are >70 ms. We hypothesized, however, that children may commonly have VA times <70 ms in AVRT.

Objective: This study sought to determine the incidence and characteristics associated with short-VA AVRT in children.

Testosterone concentrations in early pregnancy: relation to method of conception in an infertile population.

This prospective cohort study of infertility patients compared testosterone concentrations in early pregnancy in infertility patients who conceived naturally or after treatment. Although all groups demonstrated some increase in pregnancy testosterone from baseline concentrations, subjects who conceived following ovulation induction showed a significantly increased rise in testosterone as compared with controls (P<0.01).