Organisation of paediatric echocardiography laboratories and governance of echocardiography services and training in Europe: current status, disparities, and potential solutions. A survey from the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC) imaging working group.

Background: There is limited data on the organisation of paediatric echocardiography laboratories in Europe.

Methods: A structured and approved questionnaire was circulated across all 95 Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology affiliated centres. The aims were to evaluate: (1) facilities in paediatric echocardiography laboratories across Europe, (2) accredited laboratories, (3) medical/paramedical staff employed, (4) time for echocardiographic studies and reporting, and (5) training, teaching, quality improvement, and research programs.

Adult congenital heart disease training in Europe: current status, disparities and potential solutions.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the status of training of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) cardiologists in Europe.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to ACHD cardiologists from 34 European countries.

Results: Representatives from 31 of 34 countries (91%) responded.

Long-term follow-up of percutaneous secundum-type atrial septal defect closure using Amplatzer Septal Occluder since 1995: a single-centre study.

Introduction: The goal of this single-centre study was to evaluate long-term results of percutaneous closure of secundum-type atrial septal defect using Amplatzer Septal Occluder with the follow-up to 25 years.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent percutaneous closure of secundum-type atrial septal defect between September 1995 and October 2012 in our institution was performed. All procedures were performed after fulfilling strict indication criteria.

Percutaneous treatment of a huge patent ductus venosus and severe portal vein hypoplasia using a Figulla Flex II atrial septal defect occluder in a 2-year-old infant: a case report.

Background: Intra- or extrahepatic porto-caval shunts (PCSs) can account for multiorgan dysfunction with pulmonary arterial hypertension and portosystemic encephalopathy as the most serious consequences of bypass of the hepatic circulation. The ductus venosus (DV) represents a rare foetal PCS and might be persistently patent in newborns after birth. Treatment strategies include surgical ligation and percutaneous device closure.

Association Between Apelin and Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With High Risk of Ischemic Stroke.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high risk of stroke preventable by timely initiation of anticoagulation. Currently available screening tools based on ECG are not optimal due to inconvenience and high costs. Aim of this study was to study the diagnostic value of apelin for AF in patients with high risk of stroke.

Advanced glycation end products predict long-term outcome of catheter ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: Oxidative stress is an important contributor to the etiology of atrial fibrillation (AF). Our aim was to study oxidative stress biomarkers in patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal AF with radiofrequency catheter ablation and to assess its prognostic value in predicting long-term PVI outcome.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we included 62 patients (mean age 55±8 years, 12 females and 50 males) with paroxysmal AF and implanted ECG loop recorders who underwent PVI.

Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias during the intrauterine, neonatal, and infant period: A 10-year population-based study.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the incidence, type, and management of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVT) during the first year of life in a retrospective, population-based, single-center study during a 10-year period.

Methods: The analyzed patient cohort is based on data from the only specialized center managing all cases of neonatal and infant SVTs between 2009 and 2018 in the Slovak Republic (5.5 million population).

Right aortic arch with isolated left subclavian artery: a rare association with coarctation of the left pulmonary artery.

We present a case report of rare association of right aortic arch with isolated left subclavian artery with coarctation of the left pulmonary artery.

Utilisation of three-dimensional printed heart models for operative planning of complex congenital heart defects.

Background And Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of the three-dimensional (3D) printing of cardiovascular structures. To explore whether utilisation of 3D printed heart replicas can improve surgical and catheter interventional planning in patients with complex congenital heart defects.

Methods: Between December 2014 and November 2015 we fabricated eight cardiovascular models based on computed tomography data in patients with complex spatial anatomical relationships of cardiovascular structures.