Advantages of using a TorqVue LP catheter for patent arterial duct stenting in newborn with a duct-dependent pulmunary circulation: a case report.

Almost 20% of children with simple or complex types of CHD have a duct-dependent circulation The systemic-to-pulmonary shunt can be performed surgically, e.g., Blalock-Taussing shunt or with a patent duct arteriosus stenting.

Heart transplantation in juvenile-onset systemic sclerosis with primary cardiac involvement: report of two cases and comprehensive literature review.

Juvenile onset systemic sclerosis is a rare chronic multisystem connective tissue disease characterized by skin induration, microangiopathy, autoimmune disturbances and widespread fibrosis of internal organs. Primary cardiac involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is associated with a variable phenotype, including heart failure and arrhythmias, which lead to poor short-term prognosis. Isolated heart transplantation is a rare approach for the treatment of advanced heart failure in patients with systemic sclerosis.

The impact of dominant ventricle morphology and additional ventricular chamber size on clinical outcomes in patients with Fontan circulation.

Objectives: The functional roles of ventricular dominance and additional ventricular chamber after Fontan operation are still uncertain. We aim to assess and correlate such anatomical features to late clinical outcomes.

Methods: Fontan patients undergoing cardiac MRI and cardiopulmonary exercise test between January 2020 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed.

The Sub-Pulmonary Left Ventricle in Patients with Systemic Right Ventricle, the Paradoxical Neglected Chamber: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking Study.

: The impact of subpulmonary left ventricle (LV) dysfunction in patients with a systemic right ventricle (SRV) is insufficiently characterized, with only a few studies suggesting its prognostic significance. Additionally, its evaluation through imaging techniques is a challenge. To assess the correlation between quantitative cardiac magnetic resonance-feature tracking (CMR-FT) data and the risk of clinical events related to the natural history of SRV failure.

Transforming Heart Failure Management: The Power of Strain Imaging, 3D Imaging, and Vortex Analysis in Echocardiography.

Heart failure (HF) remains a critical global health challenge, necessitating advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This review explores the evolution of imaging technologies and their impact on HF management, focusing on three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE), myocardial strain imaging, and vortex dynamics imaging. Three-dimensional echocardiography enhances traditional echocardiography by providing more accurate assessments of cardiac structures, while myocardial strain imaging offers the early detection of subclinical myocardial dysfunction, crucial in conditions such as chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and ischemic heart disease.

Stress Echocardiography in the Follow-Up of Young Patients with Repaired Aortic Coarctation.

Aortic coarctation (CoA) is a congenital heart disease affecting 5-8% of patients, with long-term complications persisting despite successful correction. Stress echocardiography (SE) is increasingly used for evaluating cardiac function under stress, yet its role in repaired CoA remains under-explored. This study aimed to assess the predictive value of SE and myocardial strain in repaired CoA patients with a history of hypertension without significant gradients or with borderline gradients at rest.

How effective is disopyramide in treating pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy? State of the art and future directions.

Pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has a wide range of clinical manifestations. Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) at rest is present in up to one-third of children with HCM, with a further 50-60% of symptomatic children developing a gradient under exertion. Treatment options are limited, and there is a relative lack of data on the pediatric population.

Postoperative Outcomes of Fontan Operation in a Multicenter Italian Study. How Far Have We Gone? Early Outcomes After Fontan Operation.

Despite the clinical results of the Fontan operation have certainly improved, it still presents with an inherent surgical risk of death and early morbidities. This is a retrospective clinical study of children undergoing Fontan operation in 9 congenital cardiac centers in Italy between 1990 and 2023. Clinical and surgical data were collected via a dedicated RedCap database.

Changes of intracardiac flow dynamics measured by HyperDoppler in patients with aortic stenosis.

Aims: Assessment of intracardiac flow dynamics has recently acquired significance due to the development of new measurement methods based on echocardiography. Recent studies have demonstrated that cardiac abnormalities are associated with changes in intracardiac vortical flows. Yet, no previous study assessed the impact of aortic stenosis (AS) on intracardiac vortices.

Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy of the Atrial Flow Regulator in Pediatric Patients: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: The Atrial Flow Regulator (AFR; Occlutech) can be used to create interatrial communication with a predetermined diameter in various pathophysiological settings. In the pediatric population, the experience is limited to a few case reports. We aim to report the initial single-center experience of AFR implantation in children with congenital and acquired heart disease.

Standardized diagnostic reference levels for paediatric interventional cardiology: Data from an Italian referral centre.

Purpose: To provide data on radiation exposure in paediatric interventional cardiology procedures, addressing the scarcity of valuable Local Diagnostic Reference Levels (LDRLs),established according to the standardized approach proposed by the Radiation Protection 185 report (RP185).

Methods: Paediatric catheterization procedures conducted at the University-Hospital of Padua from September 2019 to December 2022 were stratified by body weight (BW) classes and procedure type. LDRLs were calculated for groups with at least 20 patients as the 75th percentile of Kerma-Area Product (P) and Air Kerma at reference point (K) values.

Importance of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Applied to Congenital Heart Diseases in Pediatric Age: A Narrative Review.

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) represent a heterogeneous group of congenital defects, with high prevalence worldwide. Non-invasive imaging is essential to guide medical and surgical planning, to follow the patient over time in the evolution of the disease, and to reveal potential complications of the chosen treatment. The application of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) in this population allows for obtaining detailed information on the defects without the necessity of ionizing radiations.

A Comprehensive Excursus of the Roles of Echocardiography in Heart Transplantation Follow-Up.

Current guidelines for the care of heart transplantation recipients recommend routine endomyocardial biopsy and invasive coronary angiography as the cornerstones in the surveillance for acute rejection (AR) and coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV). Non-invasive tools, including coronary computed tomography angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance, have been introduced into guidelines without roles of their own as gold standards. These techniques also carry the risk of contrast-related kidney injury.

Standardization in paediatric echocardiographic reporting and critical interpretation of measurements, functional parameters, and prediction scores: a clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging of the European Society of Cardiology and the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology.

This document has been developed to provide a guide for basic and advanced reporting in paediatric echocardiography. Furthermore, it aims to help clinicians in the interpretation of echocardiographic measurements and functional data for estimating the severity of disease in different paediatric age groups. The following topics will be reviewed and discussed in the present document: (i) the general principle in constructing a paediatric echocardiographic report, (ii) the basic elements to be included, and (iii) the potential and limitation of currently employed tools used for disease severity quantification during paediatric reporting.

Recommendations for cardiovascular magnetic resonance and computed tomography in congenital heart disease: a consensus paper from the CMR/CCT Working Group of the Italian Society of Pediatric Cardiology and the Italian College of Cardiac Radiology endorsed by the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology (Part II).

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and computed tomography (CCT) are advanced imaging modalities that recently revolutionized the conventional diagnostic approach to congenital heart diseases (CHD), supporting echocardiography and often replacing cardiac catheterization. This is the second of two complementary documents, endorsed by experts from the Working Group of the Italian Society of Pediatric Cardiology and the Italian College of Cardiac Radiology of the Italian Society of Medical and Interventional Radiology, aimed at giving updated indications on the appropriate use of CMR and CCT in different clinical CHD settings, in both pediatrics and adults. In this article, support is also given to radiologists, pediatricians, cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons for indications and appropriateness criteria for CMR and CCT in the most referred CHD, following the proposed new criteria presented and discussed in the first document.

How Will Artificial Intelligence Shape the Future of Decision-Making in Congenital Heart Disease?

Improvements in medical technology have significantly changed the management of congenital heart disease (CHD), offering novel tools to predict outcomes and personalize follow-up care. By using sophisticated imaging modalities, computational models and machine learning algorithms, clinicians can experiment with unprecedented insights into the complex anatomy and physiology of CHD. These tools enable early identification of high-risk patients, thus allowing timely, tailored interventions and improved outcomes.

Cardiac Mechanics Evaluation in Preschool-Aged Children with Preterm Birth History: A Speckle Tracking and 4D Echocardiography Study.

The premature-born adult population is set to grow significantly, and prematurity has emerged as an important cardiovascular risk factor. We aimed to comprehensively assess cardiac mechanics and function in a cohort of ex-preterm preschoolers. Ex-preterm children (<30 weeks of gestation), aged 2 to 5 years, underwent transthoracic 2D, speckle-tracking, and 4D echocardiography.

Pediatric Hypertension: A Condition That Matters.

Systemic hypertension has been considered mainly as an adult health issue for a long time, but it is now being increasingly acknowledged as a significant problem also among pediatric patients. The frequency of pediatric hypertension has grown mostly because of increases in childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles, but secondary forms of hypertension play a role as well. Considering that unaddressed hypertension during childhood can result in enduring cardiovascular complications, timely identification and intervention are essential.

Neonatal Enterovirus-Associated Myocarditis in Dizygotic Twins: Myocardial Longitudinal Strain Pattern Analysis.

Enteroviruses (EVs) are the most common causes of viral myocarditis in neonates. Neonatal enterovirus myocarditis manifestations range from nonspecific febrile illness to congestive heart failure and cardiogenic shock with high risk of in-hospital mortality and long-term cardiac sequelae. Early recognition is essential to undertake appropriate therapy and predict outcomes.