Partial cardiopulmonary bypass through left thoracotomy for coarctation repair in children.

Background: A left thoracotomy approach is anatomically appropriate for childhood aortic coarctation; however, the pediatric femoral arteriovenous diameters are too small for cardiopulmonary bypass cannulation. We aimed to determine the safety of a partial cardiopulmonary bypass through the main pulmonary artery and the descending aorta in pediatric aortic coarctation repair.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 10 patients who underwent coarctation repair under partial main pulmonary artery-to-descending aorta cardiopulmonary bypass with a left thoracotomy as the CPB group.

Comparison between transcatheter versus surgical intervention for pediatric aortic valvular stenosis: a multicenter study in Japan.

It is controversial whether children with isolated aortic valvular stenosis (vAS) initially undergo transcatheter or surgical aortic valvuloplasty (BAV or SAV). This multicenter retrospective case-control study aimed to explore outcomes after BAV or SAV for pediatric vAS. We studied children (aged < 15 years) with vAS treated at 4 tertiary congenital heart centers, and compared the rates of survival, reintervention, and valve replacement between patients with BAV and SAV.

Home-inhaled nitric oxide in a child with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with post-operative pulmonary venous obstruction.

Home-inhaled nitric oxide therapy was effective and feasible in the patients with intractable pulmonary arterial hypertension. We present the case of a child with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with post-operative pulmonary venous obstruction who was treated with home-inhaled nitric oxide therapy.

Transcatheter atrial septal defect closure late after completion of biventricular circulation in patients with pulmonary atresia intact ventricular septum or critical pulmonary stenosis.

Objective: This study aimed to explore anatomical and hemodynamic features of atrial septal defect, which was treated by transcatheter device closure late after completion of biventricular circulation in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) or critical pulmonary stenosis (CPS).

Methods: We studied echocardiographic and cardiac catheterization data, including defect size, retroaortic rim length, single or multiple defects, the presence of malalignment atrial septum, tricuspid and pulmonary valve diameters, and cardiac chamber sizes, in patients with PAIVS/CPS who underwent transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (TCASD), and compared to control subjects.

Results: A total of 173 patients with atrial septal defect, including 8 patients with PAIVS/CPS, underwent TCASD.

Feasibility and Safety of Sodium Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Adults with Heart Failure after the Fontan Procedure.

Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have been widespread in patients with heart failure; however, there is little information regarding its feasibility and safety among patients after the Fontan procedure. We presented five adults after the Fontan procedure who were treated with SGLT-2 inhibitors. All patients reduced oedema and/or pleural effusion despite other conjunct medications were ineffective.

Comprehensive assessments of pulmonary circulation in children with pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease.

Pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (CHD-PH) encompasses different conditions confounded by the left-to-right shunt, left heart obstruction, ventricular dysfunction, hypoxia due to airway obstruction, dysplasia/hypoplasia of the pulmonary vasculature, pulmonary vascular obstructive disease, and genetic variations of vasoactive mediators. Pulmonary input impedance consists of the pulmonary vascular resistance (Rp) and capacitance (Cp). Rp is calculated as the transpulmonary pressure divided by the pulmonary cardiac output, whereas Cp is calculated as the pulmonary stroke volume divided by the pulmonary arterial pulse pressure.

Being Overweight Is Related to Neoaortic Sinus Dilatation After Arterial Switch Operation.

Background: Neoaortic sinus dilatation is a late comorbidity after an arterial switch operation in patients with dextro-transposition of the great arteries. We aim to explore whether neoaortic sinus dilatation is related to overweight or obesity, as these affect aortic remodeling in such patients.

Methods: We measured neoaortic diameters including those for the annulus, sinus, sinotubular junction, and ascending aorta by echocardiography and studied the relationship between these diameters and body mass index in patients aged 15 years and older after an arterial switch operation.

Fetal cardiac capillary hemangioma resulting in tachyarrhythmia.

We present the case of a fetus with cardiac capillary hemangioma in the right atrial cavity. The tumor showed dramatic growth between the 28 and 32 week of gestation and resulted in tachyarrhythmia. The patient was born at the 33 weeks of gestation weighing 2430 g via urgent cesarean section because the rapidly growing cardiac tumor caused incessant tachyarrhythmia, pericardial effusion, and fetal circulatory incompetence.

Overgrowth of the Amygdala in Children with Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease.

Early life stress is associated with overgrowth of the amygdala, which plays a key role in the processing and memory of emotional responses. Herein, we aimed to explore the amygdala volume in children with single-ventricle congenital heart disease who experience repeated admissions during the neonatal period and infancy. We compared the amygdala volume measured using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between 40 patients after completion of the Fontan procedure and 40 age- and sex-matched control subjects Age at the MRI study were 9.

Coronary anomalies associated with ventricular septal defect.

Coronary anomalies encompass different conditions in terms of anomalous origin, coursing, and branching, which are occasionally associated with congenital heart disease. This study aimed to explore coronary anomalies associated with ventricular septal defect that was a stereotypical congenital heart disease. We retrospectively reviewed angiographic findings in patients with ventricular septal defect who required corrective surgery, and identified coronary abnormalities, including anomalous origin, coursing, and branching of coronary arteries based on angiography.

Coronary arterial dominance in patients with congenital heart disease.

Coronary arterial dominance is concerned in the management of ischemic heart disease. In particular, right coronary arterial dominance is having a risk for three-vessel coronary artery disease. Thus, this study aimed to explore coronary arterial dominance in patients with congenital heart disease.

Ventricular Repolarization Dispersion is a Potential Risk for the Development of Life-Threatening Arrhythmia in Children with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

The risk stratification and early interventions are necessary in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), as life-threatening arrhythmia (LTA) is a leading cause of death. This study aimed to explore whether an interval between the peak of the T wave to the end terminal of the T wave (Tp-e), which represents ventricular repolarization dispersion, could predict the risk for LTA in children with HCM. We analyzed electrocardiography at the first and last visits in children (aged < 15 years) with HCM, and compared Tp-e interval and the ratio of Tp-e interval to QT interval (Tp-e/QT) between children with and without LTA.

Home High-Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy in Children with Congenital Heart Disease.

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy has been applied in the perioperative respiratory care for children with congenital heart disease and respiratory problems. However, the information about the feasibility of home HFNC therapy remains lacking among them. We retrospectively reviewed 5 children with congenital heart disease and respiratory problems who underwent home HFNC therapy, and evaluated their feasibility and safety.

Pulmonary vascular resistance and compliance in pulmonary blood flow alterations in children with congenital heart disease.

There is a unique hyperbolic relationship between pulmonary vascular resistance (Rp) and compliance (Cp); however, the characteristics of this coupling curve in pulmonary blood flow alterations remains unknown in children with congenital heart disease. We aimed to explore the Rp-Cp coupling and resistant-compliance (RC) time among them. We retrospectively reviewed catheterization data and calculated Rp and Cp in 217 subjects with ventricular septal defect.

Pulmonary vascular resistance and compliance in individuals with trisomy 18.

Individuals with trisomy 18 (T18) usually have congenital heart disease, often with pulmonary hypertension, which is associated with poor outcomes. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of pulmonary circulation including pulmonary vascular resistance (Rp) and compliance (Cp) among them. We retrospectively reviewed cardiac catheterization data in subjects with T18, trisomy 21 (T21), and without chromosomal anomaly (control group) who were referred due to heart failure associated with ventricular septal defect between 2000 and 2020.

Long-Term Outcomes After an Individualized Strategy in Patients with Pulmonary Atresia and Intact Ventricular Septum.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to explore the long-term outcomes of an individualized strategy in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PAIVS). We analyzed survival and reintervention rates and identified risk factors for outcomes in patients with PAIVS treated based on individual right heart structures between 1979 and 2019. Ninety-five patients were included in this study.

Echocardiographic Assessments for Peripartum Cardiac Events in Pregnant Women with Low-Risk Congenital Heart Disease.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to explore the relationship between temporal changes in the cardiac function and peripartum cardiac events in pregnant women with low-risk congenital heart disease.We performed echocardiography at early and late pregnancy and postpartum in 76 pregnant women with low-risk congenital heart disease, and compared echocardiographic parameters between subjects with and without peripartum cardiac events. Median age at delivery was 27 (range, 24-31) years.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in patients after Fontan operation: is this a Fontan-associated renal disease?

Despite acceptable survival for Fontan operation, there are concerns about late complications affecting the major organs. We herein present two cases of adults after Fontan operation who developed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. These cases suggest that focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is owing to haemodynamic incompetence associated with Fontan operation, including congestion, hypoxia, and hyperviscosity, which may be called Fontan-associated renal disease.

Distensibility of the ductus arteriosus in neonates and young infants undergoing transcatheter closure.

Device migration is one of serious complications in neonates and infants undergoing transcatheter closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We hypothesize that neonates and young infants possess the distensibility of the ductus, which may be related to device migration. We retrospectively reviewed angiographic findings in 41 neonates and infants who underwent transcatheter closure of PDA.

Late Adverse Events in Patients With Pulmonary Atresia With Intact Ventricular Septum After Valvuloplasty.

Background: We aimed to explore the relation between temporal right heart growth and long-term outcomes in patients with pulmonary atresia with an intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) who underwent balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV).

Methods: We performed echocardiography to measure pulmonary valve diameter, right atrial end-systolic area (RAA), and right ventricular end-diastolic area (RVA) before BPV 1 and 5 years after BPV. Primary and secondary end points were to explore temporal changes in right heart structures and to determine echocardiographic parameters related to late adverse events (LAEs).

Characteristics of the pulmonary circulation in infants with complete atrioventricular septal defect.

Objective: Infants with complete atrioventricular septal defect occasionally accompany pulmonary hypertension; however, the pulmonary circulation can be altered by pulmonary vascular conditions as well as the left heart lesions. This study aimed to explore whether the left heart lesions were related to the pulmonary circulation among them.

Methods: We performed echocardiography and cardiac catheterisation in 42 infants with complete atrioventricular septal defect and studied relationships between the pulmonary haemodynamic parameters and the left heart morphology.

Headache and Left Ventricular Efficiency After Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defect.

Objective/background: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between migraine-like headache and ventriculo-arterial coupling after transcatheter closure of the atrial septal defect in children. We hypothesized that migraine headache after defect closure would be related to an abnormal hemodynamic response against an increased left ventricular filling.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.