Giant left atrial appendage aneurysm in a neonate.

Giant aneurysm of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is a rare condition typically presenting in adulthood. This case report describes the investigations and surgical management of a giant LAA aneurysm in a neonate, emphasizing the role of echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in preoperative evaluation as well as challenges in surgical repair of this defect.

Fears and anxiety in children with long-QT syndrome compared to children with asthma.

Objective: To compare children with asthma to children with long-QT syndrome (LQTS) in terms of anxiety and medical fears.

Method: Forty children (25 males/15 females) with asthma and their mothers participated, along with seven children with LQTS (four males/three females) and their mothers.

Results: Children with asthma had significantly more medical fears, fear of danger/death, and fear of minor injury and small animals compared to children with LQTS.

QT intervals in metabolic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: The present study determined the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy together with prolonged corrected QT (QTc) intervals in children. The study also examined whether an association exists between prolonged QTc intervals and ventricular dysrhythmia in a patient cohort with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: The morbidity and mortality for pediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy remains high and is a clinical challenge.

Electrocardiogram interpretation and management in a pediatric emergency department.

Objectives: To determine the accuracy of electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation by pediatric emergency physicians through comparison with a pediatric cardiologist and to determine the intrarater and interrater reliability for pediatric emergency physicians and cardiologists.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in which pediatric emergency physicians ordering an ECG completed a standardized questionnaire. The same emergency physician, a second emergency physician, and a pediatric cardiologist also completed the questionnaire for all ECGs at a later time.

Surgical outcome following treatment of isolated subaortic obstruction.

Surgical and nonsurgical patients with isolated subaortic stenosis (SAS) were compared to determine the important factors contributing to the timing of surgical intervention. This study reviews 49 consecutive patients (27 surgical and 22 nonsurgical) aged 1.8 to 15.