Incidence, timing, and predictive factors of new-onset migraine headache attack after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the incidence, predictive factors, and duration of migraine headache attack (MHA) after transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure. A total of 260 consecutive patients who underwent ASD or PFO closure in our center answered a structured headache questionnaire focused in 3 period times, including (1) at baseline (just before closure), (2) within the 3 months after ASD-PFO closure, and (3) at the last (median 27 months, range 6 to 80 months) follow-up. All questionnaires were evaluated by a neurologist who established the diagnosis of MHA with or without aura, according to International Headache Society criteria.

Life-threatening hemoptysis following the Fontan procedure.

Two cases of life-threatening recurrent hemoptysis occurring 10 years after a Fontan operation are presented. Bleeding from aortopulmonary collateral vessels was responsible for this complication in both cases, and the importance of systematic selective angiography of all potential origins of such abnormal vessels, including those arising from the abdominal aorta, is highlighted. Although coil embolization of aortopulmonary collateral vessels is usually definitive, pulmonary lobectomy may be necessary.

Usefulness of Doppler echocardiography guidance during balloon aortic valvuloplasty for the treatment of congenital aortic stenosis.

Introduction: Few data exist regarding the potential benefits of continuous echocardiographic guidance during balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) for the treatment of congenital aortic stenosis (AS). The objectives of this study were 1) to prospectively evaluate, in a series of consecutive patients with severe AS, the efficacy of BAV guided by Doppler echocardiography (DE) in relieving AS while preventing the appearance of significant aortic regurgitation (AR), and 2) to compare the results obtained by BAV-DE with those obtained in a historical series of patients who underwent BAV without echocardiographic guidance (BAV guided by angiography, BAV-A).

Methods: From 1995 to 2006 a total of 36 consecutive patients with AS (median age 6 years, range, 1 day to 26 years) underwent BAV in our center, with systematic application of continuous DE guidance since 2003.

Enhanced thrombogenesis but not platelet activation is associated with transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Background And Purpose: No studies have yet determined whether antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy is the more appropriate treatment after transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic stroke. The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the presence, degree, and timing of activation of the platelet and coagulation systems after transcatheter closure of PFO in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients (mean age, 44+/-10 years; 11 men) with previous cryptogenic stroke who had undergone successful transcatheter closure of PFO were included in the study.