A modified suprasternal approach in transthoracic echocardiography for isolated left upper partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection: Hard to diagnose, easy to miss.

Background: Isolated left upper partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) via the innominate vein to the right atrium is a rare congenital anomaly. This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of a modified suprasternal view in transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for the detection of left upper PAPVC.

Methods: After the incidental diagnosis of left upper PAPVC in our first patient in 2008, we added a modified suprasternal view to all TTEs performed in our pediatric cardiology clinic.

Surgical treatment of common arterial trunk in patients beyond the first year of life.

Background: Common arterial trunk (persistent truncus arteriosus) is a rare cardiac defect requiring surgical repair early in life because of the fast development of pulmonary vascular obstructive disease. We present our institutional experience with patients having common arterial trunk who are diagnosed after one year of age.

Patients And Methods: Between August 2010 and May 2013, a total of 1,436 patients were treated for congenital cardiac defects at our institution.

Anomalous origin of the left subclavian artery from the pulmonary artery.

Isolated left subclavian artery from the pulmonary trunk is a rare congenital cardiovascular malformation. In this report, we present the images of ascending aortic aneurysm and left subclavian artery originating from the pulmonary artery in a 4-year-old girl in addition to her congenital cardiac pathology.

Tetralogy of Fallot with unilateral absent pulmonary artery.

Background: Tetralogy of Fallot is a common congenital cardiac malformation. A rare subgroup includes unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery, either the left or the right main branch. The literature lacks an established treatment for these cases, and surgical options carry certain mortality and morbidity.

Venous and intrapericardial thrombosis: secondary to transient protein C deficiency.

We present a 2-month-old male infant with thrombosis in the superior vena cava and pericardium due to transient protein C deficiency. Protein C deficiency was related to sepsis and hepatitis-induced liver function impairment. The patient's cardiac anatomy was otherwise normal.

[Fetal arrhythmias: diagnosis, treatment and prognosis].

Objective: To evaluate patients who were referred to our center with suspicion of fetal arrhythmia for diagnosis, results of treatment and prognosis.

Methods: Thirty-three patients referred to our center for evaluation of fetal cardiac arrhythmias were examined by M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography for cardiac anomaly and type of dysrhythmia

Results: Arrhythmias were diagnosed in 15 of 33 patients. Four cases demonstrated tachycardia, 5--ectopic beats, 6--bradycardia.