[Massive intravascular haemolysis after percutaneous atrial septal defect closure].

We present a case of a 55 year-old female, who survived a complication of percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect never described before. Within the first day after treatment the device has dislodged and got stuck in the mitral valve apparatus. This has caused mitral insufficiency and massive haemolysis which resolved after interventional removal of the device.

Brachial plexus injury as an unusual complication after aortic stent implantation.

Aorta catheterisation can serve both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in patients with aortic coarctation, especially when non-invasive evaluation cannot define severity of the abnormality. We report a case of bilateral brachial plexus injury due to standard positioning of the patient's arms during non-complicated aorta catheterisation and aortic stent implantation under general anaesthesia. In discussion, we consider our patient's predisposing factors, the understanding of which may be helpful in avoiding this complication in the future.

[Left ventricular non-compaction in an infant with congenital heart defect].

Non-compaction of the left ventricle (NCLV) was categorised as unclassified cardiomyopathy by the World Health Organization in 1995. Over the last decade this condition has been identified as a distinct form of cardiomyopathy and a genetically heterogeneous disorder. Clinically, this may be coupled with the loss of contractility, arrhythmia, and thromboembolism.

Genetic background of congenital conotruncal heart defects--a study of 45 families.

Introduction: The latest achievements in molecular diagnosis create new possibilities for evaluation of congenital abnormalities.

Aim: To present our preliminary experience with genetic diagnosis of congenital combined conotruncal heart defects.

Methods: The analysis comprised 35 families with more than one member suffering from conotruncal heart defects (Group I) and 10 families (Group II) having a child with the clinical features of CATCH 22 syndrome.

[Cardio-vascular disorders at the time of diagnosis of malignant solid tumours in children--own experiences].

Unlabelled: Cardio-vascular abnormalities in children with neoplastic disease are observed in some cases even during initial diagnostic examinations. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of cardiological and vascular disorders in the initial phase of malignant solid tumors in children.

Material And Methods: The study included 236 paediatric patients diagnosed with malignant solid tumours, treated in the Department of Paediatrics, Haematology, Oncology and Endocrinology, Medical University of Gdańk, between 1992 and 2004.

[Congestive heart failure after the Senning operation. Case report].

From the early 1960s to the mid 1980s, the Mustard and Senning procedures were the treatment of choice for transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA). We report a case of a young girl who had undergone surgical repair of complete transposition by the Senning procedure in the early infancy. Twelve years later she developed a congestive heart failure.

[The significance of cardiac symptoms in patients referred to pediatric cardiology outpatient clinics].

Objective: To determine the significance of cardiac symptoms in patients referred to paediatric cardiology outpatient clinics.

Material And Methods: All patients above l month of age referred to paediatric cardiac outpatient clinics between 01-Apr-2004 and 31-Dec-2004. Data was collected prospectively in Internet data base.

[Left ventricular hypertrophy in paediatric predialysis children and treatment--induced regression of left ventricular mass].

Unlabelled: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the chronic renal failure adult population. Recently it has been shown that also paediatric CRF patients are at high risk of cardiovascular complications. Recent research programs are looking into the initial stages of chronic renal insufficiency to assess the early predictors of cardiac or cardiovascular disease.

[Prevalence of hyperechoic renal pyramid syndrome in neonates and infants with congenital heart disease--ultrasound study of the abdominal cavity in the years 1996-2000].

Unlabelled: The normal medullary pyramids both in children and in adults are non-echoic on ultrasound evaluation when compared with renal cortex. Hyperechoic pyramids are associated with abnormal function of renal tubules. This sonographic finding has been described in various diseases including transient renal insufficiency in neonates and hypercalciuria induced by long-term furosemide therapy.

[Aortic coarctation treated with bypass graft in adolescence and implantation of intravascular stent 12 years later--a case report].

A case of a 26-year-old female with aortic coarctation and Recklinghausen disease is presented. At the age of 14 years the patient underwent thoracic aortic bypass grafting. Twelve years later she developed arterial hypertension.

Analysis of candidate genes for genotypic diagnosis in the long QT syndrome.

Patients with the long QT syndrome (LQTS) suffer from cardiac arrhythmias that can lead to abrupt loss of consciousness and sudden death, already in young individuals. Thus, an early diagnosis of LQTS is essential for patients and their family members. So far, six genes (KCNQ1, HERG, SCN5A, ANK2, KCNE1, KCNE2) have been demonstrated to be involved in the development of LQTS.

Lung perfusion scintigraphy in the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary stenosis in patients after repair of Fallot tetralogy.

Background: The frequency of peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis in patients after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) ranges from 20 to 40%. This can be either primary or secondary to the surgical intervention. The influence of resulting lung perfusion alterations on the life quality of patients is difficult to predict.

[Sudden cardiac death in children].

Natural, sudden deaths in children are the cause of about 5% of all deaths. The most frequent cause appears to be pathology of the cardiovascular system. Direct cause of death are arrhythmias or, rarely, haemodynamic disturbance coexisting with decrease in minute cardiac output.