Echocardiographic predictors of surgical outcomes in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and development of a discriminatory calculator: an Australian tertiary institution experience.

Introduction: Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum is a rare congenital cardiac lesion with significant anatomical heterogeneity. Surgical planning of borderline cases remains challenging and is primarily based on echocardiography. The aim was to identify echocardiographic parameters that correlate with surgical outcome and to develop a discriminatory calculator.

Secondary prophylaxis and specialist review compliance in paediatric patients with acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in a Western Australian metropolitan setting.

Aim: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a consequence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in susceptible young people. Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis is an effective strategy to prevent ARF recurrence and RHD progression. However, the proportion of patients receiving the recommended minimum benzathine penicillin injections (>80%) remains low.

Australian National Standards of Care for Childhood-onset Heart Disease (CoHD Standards). 1st Edition.

These first Australian National Standards of Care for Childhood-onset Heart Disease (CoHD Standards) have been developed to inform the healthcare requirements for CoHD services and enable all Australian patients, families and carers impacted by CoHD (paediatric CoHD and adult congenital heart disease [ACHD]) to live their best and healthiest lives. The CoHD Standards are designed to provide the clarity and certainty required for healthcare services to deliver excellent, comprehensive, inclusive, and equitable CoHD care across Australia for patients, families and carers, and offer an iterative roadmap to the future of these services. The CoHD Standards provide a framework for excellent CoHD care, encompassing key requirements and expectations for whole-of-life, holistic and connected healthcare service delivery.

Ten Years of Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation in Australia and New Zealand.

Objective: This study sought to investigate the characteristics, morbidity (including the rate of infective endocarditis and valve replacement) and mortality of individuals undergoing percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation in Australia and New Zealand since the procedure has been performed.

Background: The outcomes of percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation in Australia and New Zealand have not been evaluated. Recent international data, including patients from New Zealand, suggests the rate of infective endocarditis is not insignificant.

Exercise-induced hypoxia secondary to an atrial septal defect and cor triatriatum dexter.

A 14-year-old boy presented to us with a diagnosis of severe asthma and oxygen desaturation of 76% on a 6-minute-walk test. A contrast echocardiogram revealed echocontrast in the left and right atria simultaneously. A secundum atrial septal defect and partial cor triatriatum dexter were diagnosed, and the atrial defect was closed by cardiac catheterisation.