Guidelines for Performing a Comprehensive Pediatric Transthoracic Echocardiogram: Recommendations From the American Society of Echocardiography.

Echocardiography is a fundamental component of pediatric cardiology, and appropriate indications have been established for its use in the setting of suspected, congenital, or acquired heart disease in children. Since the publication of guidelines for pediatric transthoracic echocardiography in 2006 and 2010, advances in knowledge and technology have expanded the scope of practice beyond the use of traditional modalities such as two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiography to evaluate the cardiac segmental structures and their function. Adjunct modalities such as contrast, three-dimensional, and speckle-tracking echocardiography are now used routinely at many pediatric centers.

Occlusion of the left main coronary artery os by a tethered aortic valve cusp.

We report a 4-month-old girl who presented with poor ventricular function and was found to have occlusion of the left main coronary artery os by a tethered aortic cusp. The patient underwent surgical delamination of the aortic valve leaflet, revealing a normal left coronary os. After operative repair, her left ventricular function improved significantly.

A clinical prediction model to estimate the risk for coarctation of the aorta in the presence of a patent ductus arteriosus.

Background: Diagnosing coarctation of the aorta (CoA) in the presence of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) may require observation until PDA closure. The aim of this study was to create a model incorporating previously published indices to estimate the probability of neonatal CoA in the presence of a PDA.

Methods: A retrospective "investigation" cohort of 80 neonates was divided into two groups: (1) neonates with PDA and suspicion for CoA requiring observation to confirm the presence or absence of CoA and (2) neonates with PDA and confirmed diagnosis of either CoA or unobstructed aortic arch.