Acute Rheumatic Fever: Case Report and Literature Review.

A previously healthy 8-year-old Native American female presented with right-sided weakness and joint pain for two weeks. Following an initially unremarkable workup including negative brain and spine MRI she was noticed to have chorea and subsequently diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever (ARF). ARF is a group A streptococcus-related disease that most commonly is a sequelae of pharyngitis.

Pediatric Viral Myocarditis - A Review.

Pediatric myocarditis is a common pediatric illness most commonly secondary to a preceding viral infection. It is a leading cause of acquired heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and cardiac transplantation in pediatrics. Due to the variability in presentation, the diagnosis is often unrecognized until later in the disease course.

Frequency of superior vena cava obstruction in pediatric heart transplant recipients and its relation to previous superior cavopulmonary anastomosis.

The risk factors for superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction after pediatric orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) have not been identified. This study tested the hypothesis that pretransplant superior cavopulmonary anastomosis (CPA) predisposes patients to SVC obstruction. A retrospective review of the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium registry from 1982 through 2007 was performed.

"Vanishing" pulmonary valve stenosis.

Objective: Both spontaneous resolution and progression of mild pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) have been reported. We reviewed characteristics of the pulmonary valve (PV) to determine factors that could influence resolution of mild PS.

Methods: Fifteen asymptomatic pediatric patients with spontaneous resolution of isolated mild PS were retrospectively reviewed.

Endovascular stent provides more effective early relief of SVC obstruction compared to balloon angioplasty.

Objective: To determine whether superior vena cava (SVC) stent implantation is superior to balloon angioplasty for relieving SVC stenosis.

Background: SVC stent and balloon dilation have been used as treatment for SVC stenosis. Although safe and effective, outcome data comparing the two methods are limited.

Delayed arterial switch operation for d-transposition of the great arteries and glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism.

The Jatene arterial switch operation (ASO) for dextro-transposition of the great arteries is ideally performed within the first 2 weeks of life. Clinical circumstances, however, may dictate a delayed ASO and left ventricle "retraining" prior to the procedure. Glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism (GRA) accounts for 0.

Successful Coil Embolization of a Large Ascending Aortic Pseudoaneurysm Following Explantation of the EXCOR Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device in a Patient With Acute Fulminant Myocarditis.

Mechanical ventricular assistance has become a reliable tool for the support of children and infants with heart failure. The devices have shown efficacy both as a bridge to transplantation and as a bridge to recovery. The potential complications that may occur with long-term support have not been fully described.