Antenatal Diagnosis of a Partial Atrioventricular Canal with Ebstein's Anomaly.

The simultaneous occurrence of an atrioventricular canal defect (AVCD) and Ebstein's anomaly is extremely rare, occurring in less than 0.5% of all patients with AVCD. Only 22 cases are described in the literature.

Berlin Heart EXCOR Paediatric Ventricular Assist Device: Does Weight Matter?

Background: Berlin Heart EXCOR (BH) ventricular assist devices provide mechanical long-term circulatory support in children with end-stage heart failure, as a bridge to transplantation or to recovery. Most studies are from large-volume paediatric cardiac centres.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the experiences of three French centres and to compare these with available published data.

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: modified extra-anatomic reimplantation.

The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in the position of a non-facing coronary sinus is extremely rare. The anatomical position of the ectopic ostia will determine which is the appropriate operative approach to create a dual-coronary supply. This report describes a technique of modified extra-anatomical rerouting using autologous pericardium patch and pulmonary artery flap to create a neo-composite coronary trunk passing anterior to the right ventricular outflow tract.

Reform of the 3rd cycle in surgery training.

The main objectives of the reform of the 3rd cycle of medical studies in France that was instituted in 2017 after eight years of preparation, are to train future specialists in a consistent and equitable fashion and to replace the previous time-based qualification by training based on the progressive acquisition of skills. This reform was an opportunity for the 13 different French surgical specialty Colleges involved to share reflections on what a surgeon actually was and to define training in surgical sub-specialties. The current reform is well adapted to these specifications and has fostered training models that are consistent with each other.

Anatomic Repair of a Left Coronary Artery Main Stem Atresia.

Atresia of the main stem of the left coronary artery is the least observed congenital coronary anomaly; most patients tend to receive a coronary artery bypass graft, although some anatomical corrections have been described. A 17-year-old female patient with left coronary artery main stem atresia underwent a coronary trunk construction with an autologous pericardial patch in our department. At a 3-year follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic, with a normal cardiac stress test.

Should transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects with inferior-posterior deficient rim still be attempted?

Background: Transcatheter closure for atrial septal defect (ASD) with inferior-posterior rim deficiency has been scarcely reported with proper identification of the indications and limits. We aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of transcatheter closure of ASDs with deficient rims, paying particular attention to cases with inferior-posterior rim deficiency.

Methods: From January 2008 to January 2013, 241 patients underwent transcatheter ASD closure, including 50 cases (20.

Mobile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for children: single-center 10 years' experience.

Objectives: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has become a gold standard in treatment of severe refractory circulatory and/or pulmonary failure. Those procedures require gathering of competences and material. Therefore, they are conducted in a limited number of reference centers.

Hybrid Melody Valve Implantation in Mitral Position in a Child: Usefulness of a 3-Dimensional Printed Model for Preprocedural Planning.

We present the case of a 4-month-old child with atrioventricular canal associated with severe left atrioventricular valve dysfunction who previously underwent 3 surgical valve reconstructions without significant improvement. A Hybrid Melody valve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) insertion was planned. Because of the low weight, the risk of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was significant and therefore evaluated preprocedurally using a cardiac computed tomography-derived 3-dimensional printed model.

[Extracorporeal life support and heart-lung transplant in children].

Extracorporeal life support and heart and/or lung transplant are the last resort in children with end-stage cardiac and/or pulmonary failure and short-term life threaten. Currently, circulatory support is used as a bridge to recovery or as a bridge to transplant but not as a destination therapy. The Excor Berlin Heart is the long-lasting external pneumatic ventricular assist system that is currently available from infancy to adulthood.

Early to mid-term results after total cavopulmonary connection performed in the second decade of life.

Objectives: Total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) performed in the second decade of life has rarely been studied. Thus, we investigated (bicentric study) early and late morbidity and mortality following completion of TCPC in these patients.

Methods: From January 1999 to June 2014, 63 patients (14.

Tricuspid valve repair and pulmonary valve replacement in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) often is performed in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). For patients who have tricuspid regurgitation (TR), tricuspid valve (TV) repair associated to PVR is still debated.

Objective: We sought to evaluate perioperative factors related to TV repair when performed at the time of PVR in patients with repaired TOF.

Transposition of the great arteries: Rationale for tailored preoperative management.

As preoperative morbi-mortality remains significant, care of newborns with transposition of the great arteries is still challenging. In this review of the literature, we discuss the different treatments that could improve the patient's condition into the preoperative period. Instead of a standardized management, we advocate personalized care of these neonates.

Long-term Complications After Transcatheter Atrial Septal Defect Closure: A Review of the Medical Literature.

Percutaneous closure has evolved to become the first-line treatment strategy for most cases of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in both adults and children. Its safety and efficacy have been proved; percutaneous ASD occlusion offers many advantages over surgical closure, including avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass, avoidance of sternotomy scar, shorter hospitalization, and a potentially lower incidence of postprocedural complications. Periprocedural course and short-term outcome have been widely described, with low mortality and morbidity rates.

Right Thoracotomy to Repair Scimitar Syndrome and an Accessory Hemidiaphragm.

The association of an accessory hemidiaphragm and scimitar syndrome is extremely rare and occurs exclusively in the right hemithorax. We present the case of a 27-year-old female, who underwent complete resection of the accessory hemidiaphragm and direct anastomosis of the scimitar vein to the left atrium through a lateral right thoracotomy. This surgical approach offered easy access to both anomalies and allowed single-stage concomitant repair; this approach avoided postoperative respiratory complications and possible torsion or stenosis of the scimitar vein.

Scimitar Syndrome Repair in Adults: Intermediate-Term Results Using an Extracardiac Conduit.

Background: Scimitar syndrome may be corrected using different techniques. Repair using an extracardiac conduit has rarely been performed. This study assessed the intermediate-term outcomes of this technique in adults.

Chronic heart failure in heart transplant recipients: Presenting features and outcome.

Background: The ageing graft frequently shows coronary lesions and a restrictive physiology.

Aims: To determine the presenting features and outcome of chronic heart failure in heart transplant recipients.

Methods: In this cohort study, we compared 44 consecutive heart transplant recipients who developed chronic heart failure more than 1 year after heart transplantation with 44 control heart transplant recipients who did not develop heart failure.

Kommerell Diverticulum Should Be Removed in Children With Vascular Ring and Aberrant Left Subclavian Artery.

Background: Right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery is the most frequent cause of vascular ring. Ligamentum arteriosus division opens the ring but leaves the Kommerell diverticulum in place, with a risk of residual compression, aneurysmal dilation, dissection, or even rupture. A procedure consisting of translocation of the aberrant left subclavian artery to the left carotid artery with removal of the Kommerell diverticulum and division of the ligamentum is currently advocated.

Plasma ultrasensitive cardiac troponin during long-term follow-up of heart transplant recipients.

Background: Plasma troponin is a risk factor for cardiac events in various populations. We evaluated the determinants and predictive value of plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) during the long-term follow-up of heart transplantation.

Methods And Results: We prospectively measured cTnI in 100 heart transplant recipients, 13.

Home blood pressure monitoring in heart transplant recipients: comparison with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Background: How reliable is home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) in heart transplant recipients is not known. Possibly, it may underestimate hypertensive burden, because blood pressure (BP) nondipper profile is frequent among these patients. This prospective study has been designed to determine whether HBPM adequately identifies hypertension in heart transplant recipients.

Surgical closure of persistent arterial duct with minimal invasive anterior thoracotomy: an alternative technique.

Surgical approach for persistent ductus arteriosus ligation is typically a left lateral thoracotomy opening the pleural-space with left lung retraction. We describe an alternative approach, with a minimally invasive anterior parasternal incision. This is particularly adapted to preterm infants weighing less than 1.