Differential Adaptation of Biventricular Myocardial Kinetic Energy in Patients With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot Assessed by MR Tissue Phase Mapping.

Background: The myocardial kinetic energy (KE) and its association with pulmonary regurgitation (PR) have yet to be investigated in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the adaptation of myocardial KE in rTOF patients by tissue phase mapping (TPM).

Study Type: Prospective.

Comparable long-term results of the extracardiac conduit total cavopulmonary connection in heterotaxy to non-heterotaxy patients.

Background: Fontan operation in heterotaxy patients has been associated with high mortality. We studied whether adoption of the extracardiac conduit (EC) total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) in heterotaxy demonstrated comparable results to non-heterotaxy population.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review of 35 consecutive patients with heterotaxy and 70 consecutive patients without heterotaxy syndrome who underwent EC TCPC between 2000 and 2018 was performed.

Biventricular myocardial adaptation in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot: Mechanistic insights from magnetic resonance imaging tissue phase mapping.

Background: The myocardial adaptive mechanism in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) is less understood. We aimed to investigate biventricular myocardial adaptive remodeling in rTOF patients.

Methods: We recruited 32 rTOF patients and 38 age- and sex-matched normal controls.

Arterial stiffness late after Kawasaki disease in children: Assessment by performing brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity.

Background: Whether low-risk Kawasaki disease (KD) patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to examine the arterial stiffness and exercise performance of KD patients in chronic stage.

Methods: This study included 158 subjects.

Adenovirus infection and subsequent risk of Kawasaki disease: A population-based cohort study.

Background: The relationship between adenovirus infection and Kawasaki disease (KD) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between adenovirus infection and KD using a cohort study in Taiwan.

Methods: We used Taiwan National Health Insurance data (from 2000 to 2008) to conduct a population-based cohort study, analyzing children that was under 18 years of age.

Update on association between Kawasaki disease and infection.

The relationship between infection and Kawasaki disease (KD) remains unclear. Infection has long been considered a key predisposing factor for KD. Bacterial and viral agents may be related to the onset of KD because of superantigen and cytokine production.

Successful repair of neonatal tricuspid regurgitation due to chordae rupture.

Neonatal rupture of the chordae of tricuspid valve with severe regurgitation is rare and disastrous. We report on a full-term female neonate presented with cyanosis caused by severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) due to anterior leaflet chordal rupture. After initial stabilization by prostaglandin E1 infusion, successful early repair was achieved with artificial chordae implantation.

Abnormal biventricular performance in asymptomatic adolescents late after repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Combined two-dimensional speckle tracking and three-dimensional echocardiography study.

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to assess biventricular performance in asymptomatic adolescents with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) using 2D speckle tracking and real time 3D echocardiography simultaneously.

Methods: We studied 31 patients with repaired TOF (M/F: 22/9, age: 16.1 ± 6.

Enterovirus Infection and Subsequent Risk of Kawasaki Disease: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Background: The relationship of enterovirus (EV) infection and Kawasaki disease (KD) is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to conduct a population-based cohort study to determine the relationship between KD and EV infection in Taiwan.

Methods: A population-based cohort study was conducted to analyze the children file (age < 18 years) of the Taiwan National Health Insurance program between 2000 and 2008.

The effects of maternal smoking exposure during pregnancy on postnatal outcomes: A cross sectional study.

Background: The purpose of this article was to evaluate the effect of maternal smoking exposure during pregnancy on postnatal outcomes.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 278 pregnant women in the third trimester, who were asked to complete a questionnaire which included inquires about the nature and extent of smoking exposure during their pregnancy. In addition to the questionnaire, each study subject provided urine sample for the measurement of cotinine.

Traumatic Ventricular Septal Defect in a 1-Year-Old Boy After Accidental Chest Compression by an Adult.

We report a 1-year-old boy with a delayed diagnosis of traumatic ventricular septal defect (VSD) related to chest compression. His cardiac function was stable after adequate medical treatment. Spontaneous closure of traumatic VSD occurred to this patient at the age of 4 years.

Fontan Operation in a Patient with Severe Hypoplastic Right Pulmonary Artery, Single Ventricle, and Heterotaxy Syndrome.

Assessment of the pulmonary circulation status including pressure, resistance, size, and absence of anatomical distortion, is crucial to the successful Fontan operation. Most patients are found to have acceptable pulmonary arteries after previous palliation, although some degree of distortion is not uncommon. However, in rare instances, some patients have only one functioning lung with another pulmonary artery seriously hypoplastic or atretic.

Echocardiographic Diagnosis of Incidentally Found Left Coronary Artery to Pulmonary Artery Fistula in an 11-Year-Old Girl.

We report on a healthy 11-year-old girl who presented to our facility with sudden onset of fainting in a strenuous running course. Transthoracic echocardiography at short-axis view showed a diastolic flow into the main pulmonary artery (PA). The diagnosis of left anterior descending artery (LAD) to PA fistula was documented by cardiac computed tomography and catheterization.

Brain Stem Hemorrhage in a 2-Year-10-Month-Old Child with Renovascular Hypertension Related to Fibromuscular Dysplasia.

Unlabelled: Renovascular hypertension due to fibromuscular dysplasia is an uncommon but important cause of pediatric hypertension. It is usually ignored and diagnosed after a long delay because blood pressure is infrequently measured in children. We report a case of previously undiagnosed renovascular hypertension complicated with right renal infarction in a 2-year-10-month-old child, who initially presented as a case of conscious disturbance.

Early and intermediate-term results of the extracardiac conduit total cavopulmonary connection for functional single-ventricle hearts.

Background/purpose: Fontan operation has evolved from atriopulmonary connection to total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) due to its advantages in terms of hemodynamics and reduction of atrium-related complications. We analyzed the early and intermediate-term results of extracardiac conduit TCPC (EC-TCPC) procedure in patients with functional single ventricle to investigate the risk factors of surgical mortality and intermediate failure.

Methods: Retrospective review of the medical records of 88 consecutive patients with functional single ventricle who underwent EC-TCPC from 2000 to 2013 was conducted.

Assessment of branch pulmonary artery stenosis in children after repair of tetralogy of Fallot using lung perfusion scintigraphy comparison with echocardiography.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the usefulness of lung perfusion scintigraphy and echocardiogram in the evaluation of the branch pulmonary arteries stenosis in children with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).

Materials And Methods: From February 2006 to November 2008, 74 children (mean age 7.8 years, range 1–18 years) who underwent repair of TOF at ages from 10 months to 13 years were suspected to have unilateral or bilateral branch pulmonary artery stenosis.

Myeloperoxidase genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to Kawasaki disease in Taiwanese children.

Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the myeloperoxidase (MPO) -463G>A polymorphism in Kawasaki disease (KD) patients, and the relationship between gene polymorphism and MPO levels.

Methods: A total of 334 KD children and 492 sex-matched controls were assayed for polymorphism analysis. TaqMan assays were used for genotyping.

Interleukin-18 and coronary artery lesions in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Background: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) plays an important role in mediating cytokine cascade leading to coronary artery lesions (CALs) in Kawasaki disease (KD). However, our research suggested that the literature regarding IL-18 and KD is limited. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between IL-18 and CALs in patients with KD.

Reappraisal of the prostaglandin E1 dose for early newborns with patent ductus arteriosus-dependent pulmonary circulation.

Objectives: The usual initial dose of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) for ductal-dependent congenital heart disease (CHD) is 50-100 ng/kg/minute. The aim of this study was to review our experience of a low initial dose of PGE1 treatment in early newborns with congenital heart disease and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)-dependent pulmonary flow.

Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of 33 newborns with CHD and PDA-dependent pulmonary circulation who were admitted from January 2005 to December 2010.

Inflow-weighted pulmonary perfusion: comparison between dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI versus perfusion scintigraphy in complex pulmonary circulation.

Background: Due to the different properties of the contrast agents, the lung perfusion maps as measured by 99mTc-labeled macroaggregated albumin perfusion scintigraphy (PS) are not uncommonly discrepant from those measured by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) using indicator-dilution analysis in complex pulmonary circulation. Since PS offers the pre-capillary perfusion of the first-pass transit, we hypothesized that an inflow-weighted perfusion model of DCE-MRI could simulate the result by PS.

Methods: 22 patients underwent DCE-MRI at 1.

Recent advances in the treatment of Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is acute systemic vasculitis that occurs mainly in infants and children under 5 years of age. The etiology of KD remains unknown. KD is liable to be complicated by coronary artery lesions (CALs), which develop in approximately 15-25% of untreated KD children and in approximately 5% of KD children after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy.