Successful hybrid stage I palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome in a developing nation.

The first successful stage I palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) in a four-day-old female in the Philippines is reported, along with a discussion of the particular dynamics and challenges of performing this kind of surgery in a developing nation. Challenges met were not limited to the preoperative and perioperative period but involved the interstage period as well. In the face of such challenges, our experience, reported here, is the cause for cautious optimism.

Update on the Amplatzer duct occluder: a 10-year experience in Asia.

Few data exist regarding the efficacy and safety of the Amplatzer ductal occluder (ADO) type 1 device in the Asian region. This retrospective study, conducted between August 2001 and April 2011, attempted device placement for 231 patients (165 females and 66 males) with a median age of 7.4 years (range, 3 months to 64 years) and an average weight of 19.