Immune Abnormalities in Patients With Single Ventricle Circulation Precede the Fontan Procedure.

Background: Immune abnormalities are common in Fontan patients with protein-losing enteropathy. Limited data exist on immune function of other patients with single ventricle circulation.

Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated immunologic characteristics of children with single ventricle circulation from neonatal age up to early post-Fontan period.

Transatlantic medical consultation and second opinion in pediatric cardiology has benefit past patient care: A case study in videoconferencing.

Background: Telemedicine is a rapidly evolving form of modern information and communication technology used to deliver clinical services and educational activities.

Objective: The aim of this article is to report and analyze our experience with transatlantic consultation via videoconferencing in pediatric cardiology.

Methods: In February, 2013, videoconferencing project was launched between a medium-volume pediatric cardiac center in Bratislava, Slovakia and subspecialty experts from a high-volume pediatric cardiac program at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), USA.

Natural history of newborn with borderline small left heart without interatrial communication.

A patient with a borderline small left heart requires difficult clinical decision making during prenatal and neonatal periods. This report describes the unusual natural history of a newborn with prenatally diagnosed hypoplastic left heart structures and early spontaneous postnatal closure of the interatrial communication. Initial deterioration from pulmonary edema and low-cardiac output improved with postnatal intensive care.

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in critically ill children with cardiac disease.

Noninvasive ventilation is effective in respiratory failure from various etiologies. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in pediatric cardiac patients. NPPV was used (1) as an alternative means of respiratory support in patients with hypoxemic or hypercarbic respiratory failure or with signs of respiratory distress that were considered to require intubation; or (2) as a preventive measure in patients with high risk for extubation failure.

A comparison of Blalock-Taussig shunts with and without closure of the ductus arteriosus in neonates with pulmonary atresia.

Background: The question of whether to close the patent ductus arteriosus when performing primary modified Blalock-Taussig (MBT) shunt surgery in neonates is still not clearly answered. The aim of this report was to compare the results of closure versus nonclosure of the patent ductus arteriosus during MBT shunt surgery in neonates with pulmonary atresia.

Methods: This retrospective study included neonates with pulmonary atresia who underwent primary MBT shunt surgery through a sternotomy approach at our institution between January 1997 and October 2010.