Effectiveness of simulator-based echocardiography training of noncardiologists in congenital heart diseases.

Background: Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality in neonates. The preliminary diagnosis often is made by noncardiologists. For this reason, there is a huge demand of training in echocardiography of CHD.

Long-term results after repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect with two-patch technique.

Background: Surgical management of patients with complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) has advanced over the last decades. Definitive early surgical repair for AVSD has become the treatment of choice at many centers. This trend has contributed to the recent decline in postoperative mortality and good long-term results.

Differential effects of the site of permanent epicardial pacing on left ventricular synchrony and function in the young: implications for lead placement.

Aims: To analyse left ventricular (LV) synchrony and function with respect to the epicardial pacing site in the young.

Methods And Results: Left ventricular function and synchrony (M-mode, speckle tracking) were evaluated during mid-term follow-up in 32 children with complete non-surgical (n = 15) or surgical (n = 17) atrioventricular block (structural heart disease in 21/32) paced from LV apex (n = 19), right ventricular (RV) apex (n = 7), and RV free wall (n = 6), respectively. Data are in the following order: LV apical, RV apical, and RV free wall pacing.

Interruption of the ascending aorta: a hitherto undescribed lesion.

We are describing a most unusual variant of aortic arch interruption. The ascending aorta was atretic above the sinutubular junction forming a blind-ending pouch. The coronary arteries were the only vessels arising from the aortic trunk.

Sinus venosus atrial septal defect with partial anomalous pulmonary venous return: diagnosis with 64-slice spiral computed tomography at low radiation dose.

The use of computed tomography is often debatable for pediatric patients because of the associated radiation exposure. Using a state-of-the-art 64-slice spiral computed tomography unit, we demonstrate the feasibility of lowering the radiation dose without losing essential diagnostic information in a case of a 2-year-old boy with a rare congenital heart defect.

Adverse effects of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with right septal or posteroseptal accessory pathways on cardiac function.

Aims: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with right septal or posteroseptal accessory pathways causes eccentric septal mechanical activation and may provoke left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony and dysfunction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) of the accessory pathways on LV function.

Methods And Results: Retrospectively, transthoracic echocardiography and electrocardiogram recordings were analysed in 34 patients (age: 14.

Real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography for follow-up of Waterston shunt.

A 37-year-old man presented with Eisenmenger's reaction. He had progressive cyanosis and signs of right-sided heart failure. In early childhood he was palliated with a Waterston shunt for cyanotic congenital heart disease.

Complications of non-compaction of the left ventricular myocardium in a paediatric population: a prospective study.

Aims: Non-compaction of the left ventricular myocardium (NCVM) is reportedly exceedingly rare and associated with a high morbidity and mortality. A different genetic background has been suggested for NCVM with [non-isolated NCVM (ni-NCVM)] and without [isolated NCVM (i-NCVM)] other congenital heart defects. We prospectively evaluated both the NCVM subgroups regarding frequency of occurrence and cardiovascular complications in a paediatric population.

Ross-Konno procedure in neonates: report of three patients.

The Ross-Konno procedure, applied to neonates with severe left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, offers a satisfactory solution in fully releasing the LVOT gradient, and in replacing the aortic valve with a pulmonary autograft with an excellent growth potential. We reported on three recent neonatal cases.