Myocardial substrates in children with congenital heart disease: relationship to substrate supply, age, growth and desaturation.

Aim: The myocardial uptake of substrates in children has only been investigated on a small scale. The purpose of this study was to define myocardial substrate uptake in relation to the arterial supply of substrates, age, growth and oxygen saturation.

Methods: Thirty patients with congenital heart disease, aged 3 months to 16 years, were studied during cardiac catheterization.

Myocardial metabolism is better preserved after blood cardioplegia in infants.

Background: We have previously reported improved hemodynamic function after blood cardioplegia in comparison with crystalloid cardioplegia. Furthermore, lactate was released from the heart after crystalloid cardioplegia but not after blood cardioplegia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the difference in substrate metabolism between the two cardioplegia methods was restricted to lactate, or whether the difference in metabolic derangement was more extensive.

Independent factors associated with mortality, reintervention, and achievement of complete repair in children with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect.

Objectives: We described morphologic characteristics, particularly pulmonary anatomy, and determined the prevalence of definitive end states and their determinants in children with pulmonary atresia associated with ventricular septal defect (PAVSD).

Background: Pulmonary atresia associated with ventricular septal defect represents a broad morphologic spectrum that greatly influences management and outcomes.

Methods: From 1975 to 2004, 220 children with PAVSD presented to our institution.

Blood cardioplegia provides superior protection in infant cardiac surgery.

Background: We hypothesized that blood cardioplegia preserves myocardial metabolism and function more effectively than St Thomas' crystalloid cardioplegia in infant cardiac surgery.

Methods: Thirty infants with atrioventricular septal defects were randomly allocated to either blood or crystalloid intermittent cold (4 degrees C) cardioplegia. Arterial and coronary sinus blood was analyzed for lactate and oxygen.

[Limited value of prenatal risk group screening for heart abnormalities. Time for a general screening?].

544 fetuses at increased risk of cardiac malformations were examined by echocardiography from gestational week 14 to 40 (median 21), during the period January 1989-March 2002. A heart defect was diagnosed in 70 fetuses. Three false positive diagnoses and eight false negative diagnoses occurred (sensitivity 89 % and specificity 99 %).