Intrapericardial teratoma in a premature neonate: pre-delivery diagnosis and successful surgical removal.

Intrapericardial teratoma is a rare cardiac tumour that is typically a lone, large, polycystic mass, in contact with the base of the heart and accompanied by pericardial effusion. In itself it is benign, but it can be potentially fatal because of pressure on the heart or great vessels. It is usually surgically removable.

Closure of a large patent ductus arteriosus in children and adults with pulmonary hypertension.

Introduction: Surgical closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in cases with pulmonary hypertension, a short and wide PDA, and/or calcification of the wall of the vessel can be a hazardous procedure. The use of extracorporeal circulation provides the necessary safety for effective closure.

Methods: Four patients (one male), aged 7, 22, 54 and 60 years old, underwent PDA closure.

Telemetrically adjustable pulmonary artery banding: first application in Greece.

We describe the first application in Greece of a telemetrically adjustable device for pulmonary artery banding (FloWatch-PAB device) in a 2-month-old baby, weighing 3.6 kg, with congenital heart disease (complete atrioventricular septal defect with pulmonary hypertension). The surgical application of the device was easy, the postoperative course of the patient was smooth, and the telemetric regulation of the device was simple and effective.