Impact of Drug Elution on Infectious Outcomes after Ductal Stenting in Newborns.

Ductal stenting (DS) is an interesting palliation for neonates with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation. With the introduction of drug-eluting stents (DES), which have a lower rate of restenosis and longer patency, these stents have replaced bare metal stents (BMS) in the global market. DES release Rapamycin group drugs, which have anti-proliferative and immunosuppressive effects.

Echocardiographic estimation of pulmonary arterial and right atrial pressures in children with congenital heart disease: a comprehensive prospective study and introduction of novel equations.

Background: Pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by a mean pulmonary arterial pressure exceeding 20 mmHg. There is limited research on the suitability of adult-based methods for estimating PH in pediatric populations. Using established formulas for adults, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between echocardiographic estimates of systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary arterial pressures, and mean right atrial pressures in children with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Left ventricular function assessment in Kawasaki disease by two-dimensional global longitudinal systolic strain with automated function imaging.

Background: Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile vasculitis of childhood mainly affecting children under 4 years of age. In the acute stage of the disease, heart function decreases and gradually returns to normal after treatment. However, subendocardial involvement may persist, which cannot be assessed by M-mode echocardiography.

Neglected Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return during Atrial Septal Defect Device Closure.

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is a rare congenital heart malformation in which 1 or more pulmonary veins drain into the systemic venous circulation or directly into the right atrium instead of the left atrium. It may occur alongside other congenital heart defects, including atrial septal defect (ASD). All patients with newly diagnosed ASD must be evaluated thoroughly for the likelihood of PAPVR to select surgical or percutaneous procedures.

Safety of Aortic Coarctation Treatment in Patients with Turner Syndrome: A Single-Country Case Series and Literature Review.

Background: Coarctation of the aorta is a common cardiac disease in Turner syndrome. Evidence indicates that surgery and balloon angioplasty in infants and small children do not have any added risk of mortality or complication in these patients. Stenting in older patients may, however, pose higher risks of arterial wall injury and mortality.

Color tissue doppler imaging of tricuspid annular plane systolic and diastolic excursion in children: A comparison of normal, volume-overloaded and pressure overloaded right ventricles.

Background: Tricuspid annular plane (TAP) systolic excursion (TAPSE) is a reproducible M-mode parameter for the measurement of longitudinal shortening of the right ventricle (RV). To date, all attention has been focused on the systolic excursion of TAP and the diastolic excursion of the annular plane back to the base has been ignored. This study aims to compare the quantitative (excursion, slope, and duration) and qualitative (velocity, acceleration, and indentation) characteristics of TAP systolic and diastolic excursion, using color tissue Doppler imaging, in three groups of children with normal RV (NORV), volume overloaded RV (VORV), and pressure overloaded RV (PORV) and normal pulmonary arterial pressure.

Recommendations for Infantile-Onset and Late-Onset Pompe Disease: An Iranian Consensus.

Pompe disease, also denoted as acid maltase or acid α-glucosidase deficiency or glycogen storage disease type II, is a rare, autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder. Several reports have previously described Pompe disease in Iran and considering increased awareness of related subspecialties and physicians, the disease's diagnosis is growing. This guideline's main objective was to develop a national guideline for Pompe disease based on national and international evidence adapting with national necessities.

COVID-19 in Children with Congenital Heart Diseases: A Multicenter Case Series from Iran.

Background: Promptly discovering and counteracting COVID-19 is critical as it could have catastrophic effects. As an asymptomatic group, children are highly susceptible to be misdiagnosed, especially those suffering from underlying diseases. Furthermore, discriminating the direct effects of the virus from those of the underlying diseases can pose a dilemma to physicians.

Complete heart block in a boy with hyperostosis-hyperphosphataemia syndrome: a case report.

Background: Hyperostosis-hyperphosphataemia syndrome (HHS) is a rare metabolic disorder characterized by recurrent painful swelling of long bones and periosteal new bone formation.

Case Summary: A 6-year-old boy was referred to our centre due to bradycardia. He was diagnosed with HHS 3 years' prior, after investigation for the cause of joint pain and genu valgum.

Multicenter Off-Label Use of Nit-Occlud Coil in Retrograde Closure of Small Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

We studied the safety and efficacy of closing patent ductus arteriosus by Nit-Occlud coils via retrograde approach. This is a retrospective study of 46 attempts to close ducts by this method in two hospitals in Egypt and Iran. Ductus arteriosus was crossed by left or right Judkins or endhole catheters.

Kawasaki Disease and Peripheral Gangrene in Infancy.

Introduction: Early diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease as the most common cause of acquired heart disease in childhood, may significantly improve the prognosis. Diagnosing infantile Kawasaki (younger than a year) is difficult because of obscure symptoms; at the same time they are at the higher risk of coronary abnormalities.

Case Presentation: We report three infants with prolonged (more than 5 days) fever and peripheral gangrene without any other clinical manifestations of Kawasaki disease.

Noninvasive Evaluation of Myocardial Systolic Dysfunction in the Early Stage of Kawasaki Disease: A Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography Study.

Background: Evaluation of myocardial function by speckle-tracking echocardiography is a new method for the early diagnosis of systolic dysfunction.

Objectives: We aimed to determine myocardial speckle-tracking echocardiography indices in Kawasaki Disease (KD) patients and compare them with the same indices in control subjects.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-two patients (65.

Usefulness of serum brain natriuretic Peptide level for screening hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates.

Objective: We studied usefulness of serum B-type natriuretic peptide level as a screening tool for detecting hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in the preterm neonates.

Methods: Sixty admitted preterm neonates with gestational age ≤34 weeks, birth weight ≤2500 gr, and age of >3 days have been enrolled in this study. We measured serum B-type natriuretic peptide levels at the beginning and after completion of drug therapy for ductus occlusion.

Correlation between QRS Duration, Pulmonary Insufficiency and Right Ventricle Performance in Totally Corrected Tetralogy of Fallot.

Objective: Despite progresses in surgical correction of Tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary insufficiency and progressive dysfunction of the right ventricle impress its long-term prognosis. In this study we examined the correlations between QRS duration, pulmonary insufficiency and right ventricular performance index.

Methods: We enrolled 57 repaired Tetralogy of Fallot patients.

A novel method for quantification of left ventricular noncompaction using two-dimensional echocardiography in children.

Objective: Although there are several echocardiographic criteria, there is not yet a general consensus about the diagnosis of left ventricular noncompaction. The current criteria are mostly based on the areas with maximal noncompaction in the heart. The echocardiographer may miss this maximal point leading to a misdiagnosis.

Transcatheter atrial septal defect closure using occlutech figulla device: a two-center experience.

Background: Despite several reports regarding the use of the Occlutech Figulla® Flex septal occluder (OFFSO) in adults, there are few reports on its use in children. We sought to study the result of the transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) using the OFFSO in children ≤12 years.

Methods: We enrolled 45 consecutive patients, ranging from 2.

Right ventricular myocardial tissue velocities, myocardial performance index, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion in totally corrected tetralogy of fallot patients.

Background: Longer survival after the total repair of the Tetralogy of Fallot increases the importance of late complications such as right ventricular dysfunction. This is a prospective study of the right ventricular function in totally corrected Tetralogy of Fallot patients versus healthy children.

Methods: Thirty-two healthy children were prospectively compared with 30 totally corrected Tetralogy of Fallot patients.

Platelets in pulmonary hypertension: a causative role or a simple association?

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION IS BASED ON THREE BASIC MECHANISMS: thrombotic pulmonary vascular lesions, vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling. Platelets are related to all of these mechanisms by their aggregation, production, storage and release of several mediators. The role of platelets is more prominent in some types of pulmonary arterial hypertension, including those which are secondary to inflammatory and infectious diseases, hemoglobinopathies, essential thrombocythemia, drugs, thromboembolism, and cardiac surgery.

Transcatheter Atrial Septal Defect Closure under Transthorasic Echocardiography in Children.

Objective: Atrial septal defect (ASD) device closure is routinely done under the guide of transesophageal or intracardiac echocardiography which are expensive techniques and not easily affordable in developing countries.

Methods: Using metallic devices, we attempted 32 ASD device closures under transthoracic echocardiography.

Findings: Of those, 30 procedures were successful (94 %).

Closure of interatrial defects by immediate-release patch.

The Immediate-Release Patch is the newest version of the Transcatheter Patch, which is a bioabsorbable device for the closure of cardiac defects. Closure of 12 atrial septal defects and 1 fenestration was attempted using this device. Of the 13 devices used, 12 were implanted successfully (including that for the fenestration), whereas 1 device moved from the original position and was retrieved percutaneously.