A neonate with spontaneous arterial limb ischemia and an aneurysm of the oval foramen: a case report.

Background: In this case report, we describe a very rare case of severe limb ischemia due to an arterial embolus caused by an aneurysm of the oval foramen in a term-born infant that occurred in the first few hours after birth.

Case Presentation: A newborn male Caucasian patient presented on the maternity ward with ischemia of the right foot. Ischemia was treated with nitroglycerin spray and low-molecular-weight heparin in therapeutic dosage.

Right ventricular function in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary hypertension: a pilot study.

Premature birth and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are risk factors for the development of echocardiographic signs of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and are associated with changes in cardiac structure and function. It is unclear whether this association persists beyond early infancy. The aims of this study are to prospectively investigate the prevalence of PH in children with severe BPD and to investigate the effect of BPD and PH on myocardial structure and function at six months corrected age.

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn in Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is suggested to increase the risk of PPHN.

Objectives: To describe the incidence of PPHN in TTTS twins and to identify risk factors in TTTS twins for the development of severe PPHN.

Characterization of atrial septal defect assessed by real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe a quantitative evaluation by real-time 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (RT-3DE) of atrial septal defect (ASD) and atrial septum that is important for patient selection for transcatheter closure, and to assess the reliability of RT-3DE findings compared with operation.

Methods: Forty-five patients, who were scheduled for surgical or transcatheter closure of an ASD, were included in the study.

Results: In 43 patients (96%), 3D reconstructions allowed optimal imaging of the ASD.

Feasibility and accuracy of real-time 3-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of ventricular septal defects.

The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility, accuracy, and clinical applicability of real-time (RT) transthoracic 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (3DE) in the determination of the position, size, and shape of a ventricular septal defect (VSD). In all, 34 patients (age: 2 months-46 years), who were scheduled for surgical closure of a VSD, were enrolled in the study. VSD localization, shape, and dimensions were assessed and compared with measurements performed by the surgeon.

Surgical validation of real-time transthoracic 3D echocardiographic assessment of atrioventricular septal defects.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of AV valve morphology assessed by real-time transthoracic 3D echocardiography (RT-3DE) compared to surgical findings and to assess whether RT-3DE is applicable in clinical practice.

Methods: Between June 2004 to May 2005, 19 patients with an atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) undergoing surgical treatment at our institution were enrolled in the study. RT-3DE was performed with Philips Sonos 7500 echo-system and off-line analysis with TomTec Echoview software.