Recoarctation of the aorta after the Norwood procedure may be treated during the second stage of the surgical palliation.

Objectives: Recoarctation of the aorta (re-CoA) after the Norwood procedure is traditionally treated during catheter-based aortoplasty (CB-A) performed as a separate procedure preceding stage II surgical palliation (S II SP). Our goal was to determine the efficacy of the protocol according to which re-CoA after the Norwood procedure in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome is treated during S II SP using hybrid catheter-based aortoplasty.

Methods: We compared 2 groups of infants who developed re-CoA after the Norwood procedure and were treated at the same institution: In group I (n = 18), CB-A was traditionally performed before S II SP; in group II (n = 15), CB-A was performed during S II SP using a hybrid procedure (catheter access was through an aortic cannula routinely used for cardiopulmonary bypass).

Risk factors for recoarctation of aorta after Norwood procedure in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Background: Recoarctation (reCoA) of the aorta is a common complication afer the Norwood procedure. Untreated, it can lead to failure of the systemic ventricle and death. The main goal of the study is to define risk factors of reCoA after the Norwood procedure in hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).

Initial experience with intracorporeal continuous ow LVAD in pediatric patients in Poland.

The Aim: The aim of the study is to present the initial experience with continuous flow left ventricle assist device (CF-LVAD) in pediatric patients with BSA below 1.5 m2.

Material And Methods: Between 2016 and 2017, CF-LVAD (the Heartware System) have been implanted in three pediatric patients in the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.

The "double dunk" technique for a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit implantation during the Norwood procedure reduces unintended shunt-related events.

Background: The introduction of a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit (RVPAc) during the Norwood procedure (NP) for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) resulted in a higher survival rate, but also in an increased number of unintended pulmonary and shunt-related interventions.

Aim: To analyse how several modifications employed in RVPAc implantation during NP may influence the interstage course, unintended surgical or catheter-based interventions, and pulmonary artery development in a cohort of patients with HLHS.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed three groups of non-selected, consecutive neonates who underwent the NP between 2011 and 2014, with different RVPAc surgical techniques employed: Group I (n = 32) - left RVPAc with distal homograft cuff, Group II (n = 28) - right RVPAc with distal homograft cuff, and Group III (n = 41) - "double dunk," right reinforced RVPAc (n = 41).

Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations.

Variable levels of methane in the martian atmosphere have eluded explanation partly because the measurements are not repeatable in time or location. We report in situ measurements at Gale crater made over a 5-year period by the Tunable Laser Spectrometer on the Curiosity rover. The background levels of methane have a mean value 0.