Using machine learning analysis to describe patterns in tissue Doppler and speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with transposition of the great arteries after arterial switch operation.

Background: Advanced echocardiographic techniques such as Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) can detect more subtle changes in ventricular performance. We aimed to study the ventricular performance in patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) at mid-term follow-up after the arterial switch operation (ASO) with advanced echocardiographic techniques. In addition, we sought to discover new clinical phenotypes using unsupervised machine learning.

Development of autonomic innervation at the venous pole of the heart: bridging the gap from mice to human.

Background: Prenatal development of autonomic innervation of sinus venosus-related structures might be related to atrial arrhythmias later in life. Most of the pioneering studies providing embryological background are conducted in animal models. To date, a detailed comparison with the human cardiac autonomic nervous system (cANS) is lacking.

Fetal-to-Neonatal Transition of an Infant with Transposition of the Great Arteries and Intact Ventricular Septum: A Case Report.

Introduction: Transposition of the great arteries (TGA), especially with intact ventricular septum (TGA-IVS), presents unique challenges during fetal-to-neonatal transition, which can contribute to developing persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

Case Presentation: A male newborn with TGA-IVS, delivered via caesarean section, presented with hypoxemia and tachycardia immediately after birth (preductal SpO: 50-60%, post-ductal SpO: 70-75%). Echocardiography revealed a floppy interatrial septum and two interatrial connections with bidirectional shunting.

Changes in blood biomarkers correlate with changes in cardiac size and function in patients with tetralogy of Fallot.

Introduction: Patients after surgical correction of Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) often show adverse cardiac remodeling. To better understand the underlying biological processes, we studied the relation between changes in blood biomarkers and changes in biventricular size and function as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Methods: This study included 50 ToF patients, who underwent blood biomarker and CMR analysis at least twice between 2002 and 2018.

International Multicenter Cohort Study on Beta-Blocker-Free Treatment Strategies for Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Patients.

Background: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare, potentially life-threatening genetic heart disease. Nonselective beta-blockers (BBs) are highly effective in reducing CPVT-triggered arrhythmic events. However, some patients suffer from unacceptable BB side effects and might require strategies without a BB.

Ventricular septal defect characteristics influence presence of septal anatomical isthmuses in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Aims: In repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), the septal anatomical isthmuses (AI), AI 3, between the ventricular septal defect (VSD) and pulmonary annulus, and AI 4, between the VSD and tricuspid annulus, are important ventricular tachycardia (VT) substrates when slow conducting. Our aim was to assess the influence of VSD characteristics, specifically the presence of muscular or fibrous tissue at its border, on the presence or absence of septal AIs, potentially related to VT.

Methods And Results: All consecutive rTOF patients who underwent electroanatomical mapping between January 2005 and March 2023 with an available surgical report providing VSD details (n = 91) were included.

30 Years' Experience in Percutaneous Pulmonary Artery Interventions in Transposition of the Great Arteries.

Background: Pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis is common after arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Differences between balloon angioplasty (BA) and stents on right ventricular (RV) and PA pressures are not well studied.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze percutaneous PA interventions' frequency after ASO, complications, and the effects of BA and stents on RV and PA pressures.

ECTOPIC trial: The efficacy of flEcainide Compared To metOprolol in reducing Premature ventrIcular Contractions: A randomized open-label crossover study in pediatric patients.

Background: Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in children are usually considered benign. Symptoms and left ventricular dysfunction are indications for treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of flecainide vs metoprolol in reducing PVCs in children.

Left ventricular apical pacing-induced heart failure in a child after congenital heart surgery: a case report.

Background: Left ventricular apical pacing (LVAP) is considered to preserve left ventricular (LV) systolic function in both patients with and without congenital heart disease. However, sporadic LVAP-associated cardiac dysfunction in children with complex structural heart disease was recently reported. We present the case of a 2.

Three-dimensional cardiac magnetic resonance allows the identification of slow-conducting anatomical isthmuses in tetralogy of Fallot.

Background And Aims: Patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot remain at risk of life-threatening ventricular tachycardia related to slow-conducting anatomical isthmuses (SCAIs). Preventive ablation of SCAI identified by invasive electroanatomical mapping is increasingly performed. This study aimed to non-invasively identify SCAI using 3D late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (3D-LGE-CMR).

Prognosis and clinical management of asymptomatic family members with -mediated catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia: a review.

Despite its low prevalence, the potential diagnosis of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) should be at the forefront of a paediatric cardiologists mind in children with syncope during exercise or emotions. Over the years, the number of children with a genetic diagnosis of CPVT due to a (likely) pathogenic variant early in life and prior to the onset of symptoms has increased due to cascade screening programmes. Limited guidance for this group of patients is currently available.

Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation After Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Atrial Tachycardia in Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Atrial tachycardia (AT) and atrial fibrillation (AF) coexist in 30% of congenital heart disease (CHD) patients. Successful atrial tachycardia catheter ablation (ATCA) might prevent AF. Data on new-onset AF after ATCA in CHD is scarce.

An international multicenter cohort study on implantable cardioverter-defibrillators for the treatment of symptomatic children with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Background: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) may cause sudden cardiac death (SCD) despite medical therapy. Therefore, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are commonly advised. However, there is limited data on the outcomes of ICD use in children.

Long-term global longitudinal strain abnormalities in paediatric patients after multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children correlate with cardiac troponin T: a single-centre cohort study.

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children is an inflammatory syndrome related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 with a high risk of cardiovascular complications (vasoplegia, cardiac shock). We investigated the cardiac outcomes in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, focusing on the identification of predictors for late cardiac function impairment.

Methods: Clinical characteristics, conventional echocardiography (left ventricle ejection fraction, fractional shortening), 4-chamber left ventricular global longitudinal strain, and cardiac MRI of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children patients (n = 48) were collected during admission, 6 weeks, 6 months, >12-≤18 months, and >18-≤24 months post-onset.

Reduced kinase function in two ultra-rare TNNI3K variants in families with congenital junctional ectopic tachycardia.

Genetic missense variants in TNNI3K, encoding troponin-I interacting kinase, have been associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and observed in families with supraventricular tachycardias (SVT). Previously, a family harboring the TNNI3K-c.1615A > G (p.

Insights into adherence to medication and lifestyle recommendations in an international cohort of patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Aims: In patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), a rare inherited arrhythmia syndrome, arrhythmic events can be prevented by medication and lifestyle recommendations. In patients who experience breakthrough arrhythmic events, non-adherence plays an essential role. We aimed to investigate the incidence and potential reasons for non-adherence to medication and lifestyle recommendations in a large, international cohort of patients with CPVT.

Balloon atrial septostomy for transposition of the great arteries: Safety and experience with the Z-5 balloon catheter.

Background: Balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) is an emergent and essential cardiac intervention to enhance intercirculatory mixing at atrial level in deoxygenated patients diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and restrictive foramen ovale. The recent recall of several BAS catheters and the changes in the European legal framework for medical devices (MDR 2017/745), has led to an overall scarcity of BAS catheters and raised questions about the use, safety, and experience of the remaining NuMED Z-5 BAS catheter.

Aims: To evaluate and describe the practice and safety of the Z-5 BAS catheter, and to compare it to the performance of other BAS catheters.

The effect of electro-anatomical mapping on the success rate and fluoroscopy time in supra-ventricular tachycardia ablation in children: single centre retrospective study.

Aims: To evaluate the effect of electro-anatomical mapping on success rate and fluoroscopy time in ablation of supraventricular tachycardia substrates in a large group of children.

Methods: Patients referred from multiple centres in the Netherlands and who received a first ablation for supraventricular tachycardia substrates in the Leiden University Medical Center between 2014 and 2020 were included in this retrospective cohort study. They were divided in procedures in patients with fluoroscopy and procedures in patients using electro-anatomical mapping.

Sudden cardiac arrest in infants and children: proposal for a diagnostic workup to identify the etiology. An 18-year multicenter evaluation in the Netherlands.

Unlabelled: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) studies are often population-based, limited to sudden cardiac death, and excluding infants. To guide prevention opportunities, it is essential to be informed of pediatric SCA etiologies. Unfortunately, etiologies frequently remain unresolved.