Functional and morphometric changes in children after neonatal arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries.

Background: The increase in the survival of patients with D-Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) after arterial switch operation (ASO) has now turned our focus to the evaluation of mid and long-term outcomes. Although most patients are followed by conventional echocardiography, the study of cardiac functionality and morphometric parameters in children with TGA after ASO is scarce. The present study aims to describe the functional and morphometric echocardiographic changes in children after ASO.

Echocardiographic Markers of Mild Pulmonary Hypertension are not Correlated with Worse Respiratory Outcomes in Infants with Bronchiolitis.

Pulmonary hypertension has been reported as a crucial factor in the pathophysiology of severe bronchiolitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in patients with bronchiolitis and to analyze their correlation with clinical outcomes. This prospective cohort study examined children admitted for bronchiolitis.

Prediction of Perinatal Mortality in Ebstein's Anomaly Diagnosed in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy.

Objectives: Firstly, to describe the outcome of a series of fetuses with Ebstein's anomaly (EA) and, secondly, to study the utility of different second-trimester echocardiographic parameters to predict fetal and neonatal mortality.

Methods: 39 fetuses with EA diagnosed between 18 and 28 weeks of gestation were included. Fetal echocardiography included the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR); right atrial (RA) area index; displacement of the tricuspid valve (TV); tricuspid regurgitation; pulmonary artery; and ductus arteriosus flow characteristics.

Nomograms of Fetal Right Ventricular Fractional Area Change by 2D Echocardiography.

Objectives: Fetal right ventricular (RV) function assessment is challenging due to the RV geometry and limitations of in utero assessment. Postnatally, 2D echocardiographic RV fractional area change (FAC) is used to assess RV global systolic function by calculating the percentage of change in RV area from systole to diastole. Reports on FAC are scarce in prenatal life, and nomograms throughout pregnancy are not available.

Catheterization Performed in the Early Postoperative Period After Congenital Heart Surgery in Children.

The aim of this study was to describe pediatric patients who underwent early postoperative cardiac catheterization after congenital heart surgery, their clinical indications, findings, interventions, and complications in a cardiovascular center. A descriptive retrospective study was performed. All catheterizations performed within 6 weeks after congenital heart surgery between January 2004 and December 2014 were reviewed.