A case report of successful percutaneous aspiration, injection, and re-aspiration (PAIR) technique for treatment of retrovesical pelvic hydatid cyst.

Pelvis is a rare location for occurrence of hydatid cyst with only a few cases reported in the literature. All the previous reports of pelvic hydatid cysts were managed with either surgical exploration and excision or laparoscopic intervention. In this case report, we describe the successful treatment of a large pelvic hydatid cyst located in the retrovesical space using the percutaneous aspiration, injection, and respiration (PAIR) technique.

Assessment of fluid balance after neonatal cardiac surgery: a description of intake/output vs. weight-based methods.

Background: Fluid overload associates with poor outcomes after neonatal cardiac surgery, but consensus does not exist for the most clinically relevant method of measuring fluid balance (FB). While weight change-based FB (FB-W) is standard in neonatal intensive care units, weighing infants after cardiac surgery may be challenging. We aimed to identify characteristics associated with obtaining weights and to understand how intake/output-based FB (FB-IO) and FB-W compare in the early postoperative period in this population.

Cumulative comorbid conditions influence mortality risk after staged palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome and variants.

Objective: Prematurity, low birth weight, genetic syndromes, extracardiac conditions, and secondary cardiac lesions are considered high-risk conditions associated with mortality after stage 1 palliation. We report the impact of these conditions on outcomes from a prospective multicenter improvement collaborative.

Methods: The National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative Phase II registry was queried.

Redefining the Relationship: Palliative Care in Critical Perinatal and Neonatal Cardiac Patients.

Patients with perinatal and neonatal congenital heart disease (CHD) represent a unique population with higher morbidity and mortality compared to other neonatal patient groups. Despite an overall improvement in long-term survival, they often require chronic care of complex medical illnesses after hospital discharge, placing a high burden of responsibility on their families. Emerging literature reflects high levels of depression and anxiety which plague parents, starting as early as the time of prenatal diagnosis.

Pediatric Palliative Care in the Heart Failure, Ventricular Assist Device and Transplant Populations: Supporting Patients, Families and Their Clinical Teams.

Heart failure is a life-changing diagnosis for a child and their family. Pediatric patients with heart failure experience significant morbidity and frequent hospitalizations, and many require advanced therapies such as mechanical circulatory support and/or heart transplantation. Pediatric palliative care is an integral resource for the care of patients with heart failure along its continuum.

RBC Transfusion Induced ST Segment Variability Following the Norwood Procedure.

Unlabelled: The transfusion of stored RBCs decreases nitric oxide bioavailability, which may have an adverse effect on vascular function. We assessed the effects of RBC transfusion on coronary vascular function by evaluating the relationship between myocardial oxygen delivery and demand as evidenced by ST segment variability.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Predicting and Surviving Prolonged Critical Illness After Congenital Heart Surgery.

Objectives: Prolonged critical illness after congenital heart surgery disproportionately harms patients and the healthcare system, yet much remains unknown. We aimed to define prolonged critical illness, delineate between nonmodifiable and potentially preventable predictors of prolonged critical illness and prolonged critical illness mortality, and understand the interhospital variation in prolonged critical illness.

Design: Observational analysis.

Diagnostic errors in paediatric cardiac intensive care.

Unlabelled: IntroductionDiagnostic errors cause significant patient harm and increase costs. Data characterising such errors in the paediatric cardiac intensive care population are limited. We sought to understand the perceived frequency and types of diagnostic errors in the paediatric cardiac ICU.

A randomised trial of early palliative care for maternal stress in infants prenatally diagnosed with single-ventricle heart disease.

Children with single-ventricle disease experience high mortality and complex care. In other life-limiting childhood illnesses, paediatric palliative care may mitigate maternal stress. We hypothesised that early palliative care in the single-ventricle population may have the same benefit for mothers.

Outcomes of infants weighing three kilograms or less requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after cardiac surgery.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is the most common form of cardiac support for postcardiotomy cardiac failure in children. While its benefits have been thoroughly explored in infants weighing more than 3 kg, similar analyses are lacking in lower weight neonates. This single-center study investigated outcomes and risks for poor survival among infants weighing 3 kg or less.

Mumbai stroke registry (2005-2006)--surveillance using WHO steps stroke instrument--challenges and opportunities.

Background: India will face enormous socioeconomic burden because life expectancy is increasing placing larger numbers of older people at risk of stroke and other chronic diseases. In order to plan prevention strategies, reliable information on stroke epidemiology is required. For uniform data collection (population based), WHO recommends use of STEPS Stroke instrument.

Antithrombotic agents in cerebral ischaemia.

The current evidence suggests that aspirin is treatment of choice when compared to anticoagulants for patients with non-cardioembolic stroke. The usefulness of combination therapy (aspirin vs. with or without warfarin) is still debated.

Structural and functional characteristics of lung macro- and microvascular endothelial cell phenotypes.

Lung macro- and microvascular endothelial cells exhibit unique functional attributes, including signal transduction and barrier properties. We therefore sought to identify structural and functional features of endothelial cells that discriminate their phenotypes in the fully differentiated lung. Rat lung macro- (PAEC) and microvascular (PMVEC) endothelial cells each exhibited expression of typical markers.