Beyond 30 Days: Analysis of Unplanned Readmissions During the First Year Following Congenital Heart Surgery.

Objective: We investigated the incidence and etiologies for unplanned hospital readmissions during the first year following congenital heart surgery (CHS) at our institution and the potential association of readmissions with longer term survival.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 263 patients undergoing CHS at our institution from August 2011 to June 2015. Scheduled readmissions were excluded.

Pitfalls in diagnosis: suspected anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

Anomalous coronary arteries are rare in the general population. We report the case of a term neonate who underwent an echocardiogram to evaluate a possible patent ductus arteriosus. Unexpectedly, an apparent anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the main pulmonary artery was detected by surface 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and color-flow Doppler imaging.

Fetal and neonatal presentation of noncompacted ventricular myocardium: expanding the clinical spectrum.

Background: Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium (NCVM) is a rare cardiomyopathy characterized by varying degrees of ventricular dysfunction and numerous, prominent trabeculations with deep intertrabecular recesses caused by arrest in myocardial embryogenesis. NCVM is rarely described in fetal and neonatal patients, and only isolated reports exist to date.

Methods: We conducted a review of clinical and echocardiographic data from 6 neonates found to have NCVM to elucidate aspects of prenatal manifestations, initial presentations, and clinical course/outcome.

Three-Dimensional Imaging Used for Virtual Dissection, Image Banking and Physical Replication of Anatomy and Physiology.

Historically, techniques of dissection have been used to aid in our understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and pathology. However, these techniques alter the structures and fine details being studied. New advances in computer technology, imaging equipment, data acquisition, processing, storage, and display now allow multidimensional imaging.