Cardiovascular events in perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left ventricular volume overload: a French prospective cohort study (FRANCISCO).

Unlabelled: The long-term prospective multi-centre nationwide (French) observational study FRANCISCO will provide new information on perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left ventricular overload but no pulmonary hypertension in children older than 1 year. Outcomes will be compared according to treatment strategy (watchful waiting, surgical closure, or percutaneous closure) and anatomic features of the defect. The results are expected to provide additional guidance about the optimal treatment of this specific population, which is unclear at present.

Discordances Between Pre-Natal and Post-Natal Diagnoses of Congenital Heart Diseases and Impact on Care Strategies.

Background: Pre-natal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) allows anticipation of urgent neonatal treatment and provides adequate information to the parents on cardiac outcomes.

Objectives: This study sought to analyze the discordances between expert fetal cardiac diagnosis and final diagnosis of CHD and their impact on neonatal and long-term care strategies.

Methods: We included 1,258 neonates with a pre-natally diagnosed CHD and 189 fetopsies following termination of pregnancy at our tertiary center over a 10-year period.

[Prediction of intolerance to beta blocker therapy in chronic heart failure patients using BNP].

Beta-blocker therapy is actually recommended as first line therapy for systolic heart failure. However, beta-blocker have a low prescription rate comparatively to ACEI. Beta-blocker potential side effects as bradycardia, hypotension and especially acute decompensation could explain this under prescription.

Echocardiographic and angiographic findings in superior-inferior cardiac ventricles.

The anatomy of superior-inferior ventricles was studied in 17 patients, aged 1 day to 22 years, using echocardiography and angiography. In all patients, the right ventricle was located superiorly and the left ventricle inferiorly. The right ventricular sinus was underdeveloped in 14 of the 17 patients.