Outcome for patients with isolated atrial septal defects in the oval fossa diagnosed in infancy.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the change in diameter of holes within the oval fossa, and the role of aneurismal formation in reducing the size of the hole, in patients diagnosed during infancy with isolated defects in the floor of the fossa.

Patients: In a retrospective study, we included 100 patients diagnosed during the first year of life with an isolated defect in the floor of the oval fossa who had subsequently been observed for at least 5 years. There were 56 females and 44 males.

Predictive value of cardiothoracic ratio as a marker of severity of aortic regurgitation and mitral regurgitation.

Objective: In this study we compared cardiothoracic ratio on chest radiography and left ventricular dimensions from echocardiography in patients with left heart valvular regurgitation.

Methods: The studied population consisted of 107 patients (55 male, 52 female) aged 7 to 25 years (11.6+/-4.

Patency or recanalization of the arterial duct after surgical double ligation and transfixion.

Objective: The frequency of residual shunting or recanalization was investigated in patients in whom a persistently patent arterial duct had been doubly ligated and transfixed during surgical closure.

Methods: We investigated in retrospective fashion for any residual shunting 325 patients who, between January 1990 and December 2004, had undergone surgical double ligation and transfixion of a persistently patent arterial duct. Shunting was discovered in 10 patients, of whom four male and six female.

A different type of cardiomyopathy: ventricular noncompaction (evaluation of 8 cases).

Ventricular noncompaction, characterized by numerous, prominent ventricular trabeculations and deep intratrabecular recesses, is thought to be due to an arrest of myocardial morphogenesis. We report eight patients with ventricular noncompaction diagnosed at our center in the previous one year. Two patients had associated congenital cardiac anomalies while the others were without coexisting cardiac abnormalities.

Echocardiographic follow-up of children with isolated discrete subaortic stenosis.

This study evaluates the progression of stenosis, onset and progression of aortic regurgitation (AR), and the results of surgical outcomes in children with isolated discrete subaortic stenosis (SAS). The medical records of 108 patients (mean age, 5.5 +/- 3.

Echocardiographic follow-up of congenital aortic valvular stenosis.

We investigated the morphology of the stenotic aortic valve, the progression of the stenosis, and the onset and progression of aortic regurgitation (AR) in patients with congenital aortic valvular stenosis (AVS). The medical records of 278 patients with AVS were reviewed, with the patients with concomitant lesions besides AR excluded. Very mild aortic stenosis was defined as a transvalvular Doppler peak systolic instantaneous gradient (PSIG) less than 25 mmHg, mild stenosis as 25-49 mmHg, moderate stenosis as 50-75 mmHg, and severe stenosis as more than 75 mmHg.

Venous and intrapericardial thrombosis: secondary to transient protein C deficiency.

We present a 2-month-old male infant with thrombosis in the superior vena cava and pericardium due to transient protein C deficiency. Protein C deficiency was related to sepsis and hepatitis-induced liver function impairment. The patient's cardiac anatomy was otherwise normal.

[Fetal arrhythmias: diagnosis, treatment and prognosis].

Objective: To evaluate patients who were referred to our center with suspicion of fetal arrhythmia for diagnosis, results of treatment and prognosis.

Methods: Thirty-three patients referred to our center for evaluation of fetal cardiac arrhythmias were examined by M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography for cardiac anomaly and type of dysrhythmia

Results: Arrhythmias were diagnosed in 15 of 33 patients. Four cases demonstrated tachycardia, 5--ectopic beats, 6--bradycardia.