Using the autologous innominate vein as a substitute for pulmonary arteries in a patient with pulmonary atresia and absent pulmonary arteries.

Background: Repair of the absence of the whole or major parts of pulmonary arteries is a challenge, and the choice of conduit material to reconstruct the pulmonary arteries is under dispute. We used the autologous innominate vein to construct pulmonary arteries.

Case Presentation L: We present a novel technique using the autologous innominate vein as a free graft in a 6-month-old infant with pulmonary atresia and absence of central pulmonary arteries.

Hidden pulmonary arteries in tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary artery pressure in patients operated with a pulmonary artery.

Introduction: The absence of a pulmonary artery is a rare congenital anomaly that occurs isolated or with other congenital cardiac disorders, particularly tetralogy of Fallot (TOF); meanwhile, a hidden pulmonary artery might exist and originate from a closed ductus arteriosus (DA), which can be stented to reach the artery.

Material And Methods: This prospective study describes cardiac catheterization of nine TOF patients diagnosed with the absence of the left pulmonary artery before the operation. The patients were stratified into three groups: group one, whose closed DA was found and connected to the hidden pulmonary artery with a stent; group two, whose hidden pulmonary arteries were found via the pulmonary vein angiography; and group three, for whom we could not find the remnant of the DA, or our attempt to stent the DA to the hidden pulmonary artery was not successful.

Surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot using autologous right atrial appendages: short- to mid-term results.

Objectives: The prevention of pulmonary insufficiency (PI) is a crucial part of the tetralogy of Fallot repair. Many techniques have been introduced to construct valves from different materials for the right ventricular outflow tract, including the most commonly constructed monocusp valves. We are introducing a new bicuspid valve made intraoperatively using the autologous right atrial appendage (RAA) to prevent PI in these patients.

Evaluation of electrocardiographic changes after arterial switch operation.

Background: Transposition of Great Arteries (TGA) is a serious congenital heart disease which can be accompanied by good outcomes with anatomic correction within the first few weeks of life.

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate electrocardiographic changes in the children with uncomplicated Arterial Switch Operation (ASO).

Patients And Methods: Twelve lead electrocardiograms were obtained from thirty-three patients with TGA after ASO.

Evaluation of cardiac and valvular function after arterial switch operation: a midterm follow-up.

Objectives: Transposition of Great Arteries (TGA) is a serious congenital heart disease and anatomic correction in the first few weeks of life has revealed good outcomes nowadays. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the myocardial and valvular function at midterm postoperative follow-up.

Patients And Methods: In this study, thirty-three patients with TGA and Arterial Switch Operation (ASO) were evaluated by 2-dimensional, M-mode, Doppler, and pulsed Tissue Doppler.

Additive effect of phosphodiesterase inhibitors in control of pulmonary hypertension after congenital cardiac surgery in children.

Objective: Control of residual pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) after closure of left to right shunts in children is still a challenging issue. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of two phosphodiesterase inhibitors in pediatric cardiac surgical patients.

Methods: A total of 48 postoperative children were enrolled in the study between 2008 and 2010.

Short-term result of ductus arteriosus stent implantation compared with surgically created shunts.

This report aims to compare the researchers' early experience with the safety, efficacy, short-term outcomes, and complications of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stents in neonates having duct-dependent pulmonary circulation with those of surgically created shunts. Between April 2009 and April 2011, 18 infants with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation underwent cardiac catheterization for PDA stenting as the first palliative procedure in a referral center. For comparison, 20 infants who underwent surgical aortopulmonary shunt placement in another center were used.

Causes for hospitalization and death in Iranian patients with β-thalassemia major.

There are limited studies that have focused on the causes for hospitalization as an indicator of morbidity in patients with β-thalassemia major (BTM). A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the main causes for hospitalization and death in hospitalized BTM patients in a referral hospital in Shiraz, southern Iran. During a 5-year period, 555 BTM patients were admitted to the hospital, of which 390 (67.

Triple-cavity left ventricle with an abnormal mitral valve apparatus.

The patient is a 17-year-old boy who was referred to our center with complaints of easy fatigability and exertional dyspnea. In echocardiography, the left ventricle was identified to be composed of a small functional cavity, and 2 sequestrated apical cavities that communicated with the functional cavity only through few stenotic orifices. The mitral valve apparatus was also abnormal: there was no definite papillary muscle, and chordae tendineae arose from the aberrant fibromuscular ridge that partitioned the left ventricular cavity.

Absent pulmonary valve, intact interventricular septum, rudimentary aortic non-coronary cusp and ascending aortic aneurysm in a single patient.

Absent pulmonary valve (APV) is a relatively rare congenital heart disease, and is mostly associated with tetralogy of Fallot phenotype or ventricular septal defect. APV with intact interventricular septum (IVS) is even less common with case reports or very small series in the literature. Congenital aortic regurgitation with a rudimentary non-coronary cusp is also by itself a rare congenital anomaly and to our knowledge this is the first report of the combination of APV, intact IVS, abnormal aortic valve and ascending aortic aneurysm.

A wandering stent in the ascending aorta.

A 15-year-old girl underwent patch aortoplasty for repair of a long-segment coarctation of the aorta 7 years ago. Balloon angioplasty had been performed twice, 3 and 5 years after the aortoplasty, because of recurrent coarctation of the aorta. She was scheduled for balloon angioplasty and stent implantation.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism in Southern Iran: E4 allele in the lowest reported amounts.

Background: Apolipoprotein E (apoE) with three major alleles E2, E3 and E4 is one of the critical genes in lipid metabolism. Common apoE alleles are in association with an increase in risk for central nervous and cardiovascular diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, hyperlipoproteinemia and stroke. ApoE3 is known as the most frequent allele in all populations, while association of apoE gene polymorphism with reported diseases have mostly been related to other two major alleles especially apoE4.

Oral sildenafil to control pulmonary hypertension after congenital heart surgery.

This study investigates the role of oral sildenafil in decreasing pulmonary pressure after congenital heart surgery. Between September 2002 and September 2004, among a group of postoperative children with large septal defects, moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension [pulmonary artery (PA) to aortic (Ao) pressure ratio of 0.76 +/- 0.

Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and left ventricular function in Iranian patients with thalassemia major.

Left ventricular (LV) failure is the main cause of death in thalassemia. Iron overload in patients with thalassemia leads to the formation of oxygen free radicals. Of the various apolipoprotein E (apoE) alleles, apoE4 is the least efficient in conditions of oxidative stress in comparison with apoE2 and apoE3.