Long-term follow-up of acute changes in coronary artery diameter caused by Kawasaki disease: risk factors for development of stenotic lesions.

Objective: To investigate the long-term outcome of initially dilated/aneurysmatic coronary arteries in Kawasaki disease (KD) and to define risk factors for significant myocardial ischemia during follow-up, we retrospectively followed all pediatric patients with proven acute coronary changes due to KD in our institution.

Methods And Results: Since 1981, 38 children have been identified with coronary changes due to KD. The median age was 1.

Assessment of myocardial function in pediatric patients with operated tetralogy of Fallot: preliminary results with 2D strain echocardiography.

The global myocardial function in patients after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) can be assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and measurement of B-type natriuretic peptides. Two-dimensional echocardiography-derived strain and strain rate (2D strain) facilitate the assessment of regional myocardial function. We evaluated myocardial function in 16 children with residual severe pulmonary valve regurgitation and right ventricular (RV) volume overload after TOF repair before, 1 month after, and 6 months after pulmonary valve replacement (PVR).

Stent implantation and balloon angioplasty for treatment of branch pulmonary artery stenosis in children.

Objectives: Comparison of the results of branch pulmonary artery stenosis treated with balloon angioplasty (BA) or stent implantation (SI) in children.

Background: Branch pulmonary artery stenosis may be treated with BA or SI.

Methods: We compared the results of 147 interventions of branch pulmonary artery stenosis in 87 children (median age 3.

Effectiveness of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in pediatric patients with mid to severe aortic valve regurgitation.

The long-term benefit of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in pediatric patients with aortic valve regurgitation is under consideration. Eighteen patients with mid to severe aortic valve regurgitation were retrospectively evaluated. Echocardiographic parameters (left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, shortening fraction, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, and grade of aortic valve regurgitation) were analyzed before and during therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

Balloon valvuloplasty of aortic valve stenosis in childhood: early and medium term results.

Background: Isolated aortic valve stenosis in childhood is treated by balloon valvuloplasty. The role of independent risk factors for the outcome remains unclear.

Material And Methods: We analysed the early and medium term outcome of balloon valvuloplasty in isolated aortic valve stenosis in 44 pediatric patients with isolated, severe aortic valve stenosis at an age younger than 18 years, who received a primary balloon valvuloplasty during the last 5 years in our institution.

The efficacy of ventricular pacing with device automaticity in paediatric patients.

Aims: To compare pacemaker reprogramming and re-intervention rates in children with AutoCapture (AC) and conventionally (Conv) programmed devices, and to assess reliability of device automaticity.

Methods And Results: Data of children with AC (group AC, n = 49) and conventionally programmed devices (group Conv, n = 41) were analysed. A total of 1106 outpatient visits and 147 Holter recordings were screened for device reprogramming and invasive re-intervention.

Correlation of spirometry and symptom scores in childhood asthma and the usefulness of curvature assessment in expiratory flow-volume curves.

Background: Spirometry, and in particular forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV(1)), are standard tools for objective evaluation of asthma. However, FEV(1) does not correlate with symptom scores, and hence its value in the assessment of childhood asthma may be limited. Therefore, some clinicians subjectively assess the presence of curvature in the maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curves obtained from spirometry, where concave patterns are observable despite normal FEV(1) values.

Evolution of paced QRS and QTc intervals in children with epicardial pacing leads.

Aims: Permanent ventricular pacing in children is associated with ventricular dysfunction due to asynchronous activation. It is unclear whether paced QRS intervals increase disproportionately over time, which could potentially cause ventricular dysfunction.

Methods: A total of 52 children, with bipolar steroideluting epicardial leads implanted at a median age of 5.

Long-term experience with AutoCapture-controlled epicardial pacing in children.

Aims: To examine the feasibility and safety of AutoCapture (AC)-controlled pacing with epicardial leads in children, and study the effects on device longevity.

Methods: A total of 62 children were prospectively enrolled. Pre-discharge testing precluded AC function in six children.

Do daily threshold trend fluctuations of epicardial leads correlate with pacing and sensing characteristics in paediatric patients?

Aims: To evaluate whether the magnitude of daily ventricular pacing threshold fluctuations (Deltafluctuation) in trend graphs of stored diagrams correlate with ventricular threshold and sensing changes over time.

Methods And Results: A total of 56 children received AutoCapture devices (St. Jude Medical, Sylmar, CA, USA) connected to steroid-eluting epicardial leads.

In critically ill patients, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-BNP levels correlate with C-reactive protein values and leukocyte counts.

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its N-terminal portion (NT-pro-BNP) are used for the assessment of cardiac dysfunction in patients with heart failure. However, it remains controversial whether or not this option is still valid in critically ill patients because of a possible interaction between the systemic inflammatory response and the natriuretic peptide levels. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between natriuretic peptic levels, laboratory parameters of systemic inflammation, and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) in critically patients.

Ophthalmologic findings and long-term course in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2.

Purpose: To evaluate ophthalmologic findings and long-term course in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).

Design: Retrospective observational case series.

Setting: Single-center institutional practice.

Reference curves of symphysis-fundus height in twin pregnancies.

Objective: To generate reliable new reference ranges for symphysis-fundus height (SFH) in twin pregnancies using modern statistical methods and to evaluate whether small-for-gestational age (SGA) babies of women who had a SFH measurement after the 25th gestational week could be predicted by the SFH measurement in the reference curves and other maternal data.

Study Design: In a retrospective cross-sectional study at the obstetric outpatient clinic, Zurich University Hospital, SFH was determined in 257 twin-pregnant women with accurately dateable twin pregnancies (Caucasians: N=217, Asians: N=15, Blacks: N=10, and 15 others). Exclusion criteria were intrauterine fetal death, and known fetal and maternal diseases, which influence SFH.