Publications by authors named "Howard Apfel"

Objective: To examine the prevalence of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition psychiatric disorders in youth with chest pain compared with a control sample with innocent heart murmur.

Study Design: We assessed youth ages 8 to 17 years who were examined in cardiology settings for medically unexplained chest pain (n=100) or innocent heart murmur (n=80). We conducted semi-structured interviews and assessed medical history, quality of life, and disability.

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Objective: We sought to examine the prevalence of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with complaints of noncardiac chest pain (NCCP).

Method: We assessed 27 youngsters (ages 8-17 years) referred to a pediatric cardiology practice with complaints of NCCP. Each child and a parent were interviewed using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children.

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome and risk factors for implant failure in pediatric patients who underwent pulmonary position homograft placement for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction compared with conduit placement as a component of the Ross operation. Actuarial 5-year survivals for cryopreserved right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery homografts range from 55% to 94% at all ages. It is not known whether there is a difference in homograft durability when utilized for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction or as part of the Ross operation.

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Objective: Chest pain in children and adolescents is rarely associated with cardiac disease. We sought to examine psychological symptoms in youngsters with medically unexplained chest pain. We hypothesized that children and adolescents with medically unexplained chest pain would have high rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms.

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Background: Septation of a single ventricle into 2 functioning ventricles can provide an alternative to the Fontan operation. However, early experiences with septation reported unacceptable morbidity and mortality. The present study selected only those patients with large volume-overloaded hearts, 2 well-functioning atrioventricular valves, and an absence of severe outlet obstruction.

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