Monitoring Berlin Heart EXCOR by computer vision: A preliminary implementation and evaluation.

Background: EXCOR Pediatric is one of the most commonly used ventricular assist devices (VAD) for small children; it requires visual inspection of the diaphragm movement to assess its operating status. Although this visual inspection can only be performed by trained medical professionals, it can also be attempted by the recent advances in computer vision technology.

Methods: Movement of the diaphragm in the operating EXCOR VAD was recorded as movies and annotated frame-by-frame in three classes according to the state of the diaphragm: "fill," "mid," and "empty.

Clinical significance and normal reference value of serum creatinine to cystatin C ratio in children.

Background & Aims: Sarcopenia is a serious problem in adults and children. However, limited modalities are available for diagnosing pediatric sarcopenia. The serum creatinine to cystatin C ratio (Cre/CysC ratio) is a promising method for muscle quantification, although its clinical significance in the pediatric population is unknown.

Prediction of adverse cardiovascular events in children using artificial intelligence-based electrocardiogram.

Background: Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have emerged as a novel method for evaluating heart failure (HF) in adult electrocardiograms (ECGs). However, such CNNs are not applicable to pediatric HF, where abnormal anatomy of congenital heart defects plays an important role. ECG-based CNNs reflecting neurohormonal activation (NHA) may be a useful marker of pediatric HF.

Over-investigation and overtreatment in pediatrics: a survey from the European Academy of Paediatrics and Japan Pediatric Society.

Introduction: Avoiding over-investigation and overtreatment in health care is a challenge for clinicians across the world, prompting the international Choosing Wisely campaign. Lists of recommendations regarding medical overactivity are helpful tools to guide clinicians and quality improvement initiatives. We aimed to identify the most frequent and important clinical challenges related to pediatric medical overactivity in Europe and Japan.

Hemodynamic simulation of complete transposition of the great arteries for optimal treatment strategies based on its circulatory physiology.

Our study aimed to elucidate the role of different shunts and provide novel insights into optimal treatment approaches for complete transposition of the great arteries (TGA), which is characterized by unique and complicated circulatory dynamics. We constructed a computational cardiovascular TGA model and manipulated cardiovascular parameters, such as atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) sizes, to quantify their effects on oxygenation and hemodynamics. In addition, ASD flow patterns were investigated as innovative indications for balloon atrial septostomy (BAS).

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease after respiratory syncytial virus infection in a post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patient.

Background: Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare but fatal complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Although literature on PVOD post-HSCT is scarce, a recent study has indicated that this condition may be underestimated. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory pathogen that causes common cold in healthy individuals but may lead to severe lower respiratory infection accompanied by respiratory distress in infants and immunocompromised individuals, such as post-HSCT patients.

Aortic and bronchial perforation caused by a vascular clip 3 years after its placement.

Vascular clips are currently acknowledged as a safe and efficient tool for vessel ligation in every surgical field. Here, we describe a case of massive haemoptysis due to perforation of both the aorta and bronchus, caused by a titanium clip that was placed between them 3 years ago. The present case highlights the rare but life-threatening complications that clips can cause in the mediastinum, especially when placed between a fixed structure and a large blood vessel or respiratory tract.

Practice and Safety of Static Balloon Atrial Septostomy Based on a Nationwide Registry Data.

Background: Balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) is an essential catheterization procedure for congenital heart lesions. Recently, a balloon catheter for static BAS was approved for the first time in Japan as an alternative to the conventional pull-through BAS. Despite the expected increase in the use of static BAS, reports on its safety are scarce worldwide.

Effect of procedural volume on the outcomes of congenital heart surgery in Japan.

Objectives: The present study developed a new risk model for congenital heart surgery in Japan and determined the relationship between hospital procedural volume and mortality using the developed model.

Methods: We analyzed 47,164 operations performed between 2013 and 2018 registered in the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database-Congenital and created a new risk model to predict the 90-day/in-hospital mortality using the Japanese congenital heart surgery mortality categories and patient characteristics. The observed/expected ratios of mortality were compared among 4 groups based on annual hospital procedural volume (group A [5539 procedures performed in 90 hospitals]: ≤50, group B [9322 procedures in 24 hospitals]: 51-100, group C [13,331 procedures in 21 hospitals]: 101-150, group D [18,972 procedures in 15 hospitals]: ≥151).

Case report: Autonomic and endocrine response in the process of brain death in a child with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Background: The causes of brain death include cerebral herniation and brainstem ischemia. Neuroendocrine failure or a series of autonomic nervous system disorders are clinically recognized in the transition to brain death among patients with critical brain injuries. An accurate evaluation of these physiologic instabilities and biomarkers is essential to assess the severity and prognosis of pediatric brain injury as well as to initiate supportive care.

Case Report: Novel Monitoring for Anaerobic Conditions Detected by Respiratory Quotient in a Critically Ill Pediatric Patient.

Background: Hyperlactemia after cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with adverse events during the early postoperative period in children. Serum lactate levels, a standard marker of anaerobic metabolism, are determined by the production, conversion and clearance of lactate, and may lag behind the anaerobic response. Here, we report a neonatal case under anaerobic conditions after cardiac surgery, whose expired gas parameters dramatically changed before a rise in blood lactate.

Initial national investigation of the prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart malformations in Japan-Regional Detection Rate and Emergency Transfer from 2013 to 2017.

Background: Investigation into the detection rate (DR) of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in fetuses is important for the assessment of fetal cardiac screening systems.

Objectives: We highlight issues of fetal cardiac screening in Japan.

Methods: We performed an initial national survey of fetal diagnosis of CHDs from the data of the national registry for congenital heart surgery from 2013 to 2017.