Understanding the Hybrid Stage I Approach for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

Hybrid stage I palliation combines cardiothoracic surgery and interventional transcatheter procedures for treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The approach is an alternative to the Norwood procedure, the traditional first stage of surgical palliation. Hybrid stage I palliation involves placing bilateral branch pulmonary artery bands and a patent ductus arteriosus stent through a median sternotomy, performed without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Percutaneous Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Closure in Very Preterm Infants: Feasibility and Complications.

Background: Percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in term neonates is established, but data regarding outcomes in infants born very preterm (<32 weeks of gestation) are minimal, and no published criteria exist establishing a minimal weight of 4 kg as a suitable cutoff. We sought to analyze outcomes of percutaneous PDA occlusion in infants born very preterm and referred for PDA closure at weights <4 kg.

Methods And Results: Retrospective analysis (January 2005-January 2014) was done at a single pediatric center.