Patent foramen ovale and brain microembolization during scoliosis surgery in adolescents.

Study Design: A case series is reported.

Objective: To improve understanding of the potential mechanisms associated with cerebral microemboli during scoliosis surgery in adolescents.

Summary Of Background Data: Paradoxical cerebral fat microembolization during scoliosis surgery has been associated with right-to-left shunting through an undetected patent foramen ovale.

Aortic cusp prolapse in ventricular septal defect and its association with aortic regurgitation--appropriate timing of surgical repair and outcomes.

Objectives: To determine the appropriate indications and timing for surgery in children with either a perimembranous or a subarterial type of ventricular septal defect (VSD) associated with aortic cusp prolapse.

Design: Retrospective review of children with VSD and associated aortic cusp prolapse with or without aortic regurgitation. This review was based on data obtained from clinical findings, two-dimensional echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography.

Systolic function of the univentricular heart: comparison of the Simpson's rule with acoustic quantification.

Background: Acoustic quantification (AQ) is a new method of obtaining real-time information about systolic ventricular function. This method establishes a ;blood-tissue interface' and computes an intraventricular blood volume in real time to derive a beat to beat instantaneous ejection fraction. AQ assessment of systolic function has been reported previously in patients with normal cardiotypes and varying degrees of myocardial dysfunction.