[Transcatheter closure in various types of congenital coronary artery fistula: a follow-up study].

Objective: To evaluate the short- and medium-term efficacy, complications, and anti-coagulation therapies related to transcatheter closure (TCC) of coronary artery fistula (CAF) in children.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of 12 children with CAF who underwent TCC between January 2006 and January 2014, focusing on details such as preoperative, radiographic, and postoperative follow-up data, to record closure methods for CAF, anti-coagulation therapies, postoperative complications, and results of auxiliary examinations.

Results: Among the 12 cases who underwent successful TCC and whose age was 1-158 months, four patients had proximal/medium-sized CAF, five had proximal/large CAF, and three had distal/medium-sized CAF.

[Research advance of brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cardiovascular diseases].

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are important biomarkers for pediatric cardiovascular diseases. Peptide levels are associated with age and gender. Current studies have shown that BNP and NT-proBNP are valuable in the diagnosis of heart failure, with a high specificity and sensitivity.