Emergency arterial switch: Rescue therapy for life-threatening hypoxemia in infants with transposition of great arteries with intact intraventricular septum.

Objective: A small percentage of infants with d-loop transposition of the great arteries with intact intraventricular septum have life-threatening refractory hypoxemia often due to coexistent persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. In this case series we describe the outcomes of a "rescue" emergency arterial switch operation (ASO).

Methods: We undertook a retrospective medical record analysis of infants with d-loop transposition of the great arteries with intact intraventricular septum who underwent an ASO in New Zealand from January 1, 1996, to April 30, 2017.

Revisiting QT prolongation in acute rheumatic fever - Relevance for hydroxychloroquine treatment.

In-vitro evidence suggests hydroxychloroquine could be a potential immunomodulator for the inflammatory carditis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF). Hydroxychloroquine used as an anti-inflammatory agent has a low side effect profile but its use in the Covid-19 pandemic raised concerns about QTc interval prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias. The prolongation of QTc in ARF appears benign but has not been widely studied.

Family acceptability of school-based echocardiographic screening for rheumatic heart disease in a high-risk population in New Zealand.

Aim: Echocardiographic screening for rheumatic heart disease has been piloted in high-risk areas in New Zealand and internationally, and fulfils most of the criteria for a targeted screening programme. The question of acceptability of rheumatic heart disease screening has not been assessed, and the aim of our study was to assess parental acceptability of a school-based echocardiographic screening programme in a high-risk population in New Zealand.

Methods: A post-screening questionnaire was developed to survey parents of children who underwent echocardiographic screening.