Evaluation of risk factors for long-term atrial fibrillation development in patients undergoing typical atrial flutter ablation: a multicenter pilot study.

Background: Atrial flutter (AFL) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are the most commonly detected supraventricular arrhythmias and share similar pathophysiological mechanisms. After the successful ablation of AFL, AF frequently occurs in the long-term follow-up. As emphasized in some studies, certain mechanisms seem to predispose to the development of AF in AFL patients, and approximately 20% of these patients have accompanying AFL.

Unmasking the uncommon: bidirectional ventricular tachycardia in two rare paediatric cardiomyopathies.

We present two exceptional cases of 14-year-old girls diagnosed with rare cardiomyopathies (left ventricular non-compaction, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy), both presenting with the unusual finding of bidirectional ventricular tachycardia.

High-density Mapping Catheter (Advisor™ HD Grid) Usage for Intra-atrial Reentrant Tachycardia Ablation in Children and Young Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: We aimed to share our experience of intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia mapping and ablation with a new grid-style multielectrode high-density mapping catheter (Advisor™ HD Grid) in pediatric and young adult patients with operated congenital heart disease.

Methods: All patients with operated congenital heart disease and intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia mapping with the new grid-style catheter between October 2019 and December 2022 were included (group 1), and the results were compared to those patients who operated with conventional catheter methods before this period (group 2). All procedures were performed using the EnSite Precision 3D mapping system (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill, USA) with a limited fluoroscopy approach.

The Mean Corrected TIMI Frame Count Could Predict Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Coronary Slow-Flow Phenomenon.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the mean corrected thrombolysis in myocardial frame count and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with the coronary slow-flow phenomenon.

Methods: A total of 98 patients with coronary slow-flow phenomenon who met inclusion cri- teria from 2015 to 2020 were retrospectively included in the analysis. The patients were ranked according to their mean corrected thrombolysis in myocardial frame count values and were divided into quartiles based on those.

Systemic Venous Reconstructions During Pediatric Heart Transplantation.

Background: Congenital heart disease continues to be an important indication for pediatric heart transplantation (HT) and is often complicated by systemic venous anomalies. The need for reconstruction, surgical technique used, as well as the outcomes of these have limited documentation.

Methods: Descriptive, retrospective study of patients transplanted at Emory University between 2006 and 2017.

Delayed Chest Closure for Oversized Lung Allograft in Lung Transplantation: a Retrospective Analysis from Turkey.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the delayed chest closure (DCC) results in patients who underwent lung transplantation.

Methods: Sixty patients were evaluated retrospectively. Only bilateral lung transplantations and DCC for oversized lung allograft (OLA) were included in the study.

Assessment of epicardial adipose tissue thickness and total calcium score in sarcoidosis patients.

Objective: Increased thickness of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and the total coronary artery calcium score (TCACS) are independent predictors of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether EAT thickness, measured using thoracic computed tomography, and TCACS were greater in patients with sarcoidosis.

Methods: This was a retrospective study.

Predictors of a complicated course after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the patient and surgical factors affecting prolonged hospital stay and major adverse events after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot and to identify the predictors of a complicated course after surgical repair.

Methods: A total of 170 consecutive patients (96 males, 74 females; median age 12 months; range, 1 to 192 months) who underwent surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot between January 2015 and April 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. A mechanical ventilation duration of >24 h, an intensive care unit stay of >3 days, and a hospital stay of >7 days were considered as prolonged.

Pulmonary valve replacement in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot: early results for recovery of right ventricular dilatation and QRS duration.

Background/aim: Although pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) improves ventricular function and symptoms, the benefit and optimal timing of PVR are controversial. This study aimed to evaluate early response to PVR for right ventricle (RV) dilatation and QRS duration.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed for 32 patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) between March 2005 and October 2017.

The Relationship Between Sepsis-induced Immunosuppression and Serum Toll-like Receptor 9 Level.

Background/aim: Our aim was to determine serum TLR-9 levels in sepsis and evaluate the relationship between sepsis and serum TLR-9 levels.

Materials And Methods: The study group consisted of 80 consecutive patients with sepsis and 100 healthy individuals. The demographic characteristics, co-morbidities and hemodynamic data of all patients were recorded.

Correction of dilutional anemia induces renal dysfunction in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: a consequence of microcirculatory alterations?

Background: In this study we aimed to evaluate the effects of dilutional anemia resulting from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and its correction with red blood cell (RBC) transfusion on tissue oxygenation and renal function in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Method: 70 diabetic patients who underwent elective CABG and whose hematocrit values had been between 24-28% at any time during CBP were prospectively randomized and equally allocated to two groups: patients who received RBC during CPB (group I, n = 35) vs. did not receive RBC during CPB (group II, n = 35).

A rare pathology: Levoatriocardinal vein.

Objective: Levoatriocardinal vein (LACV) is a rare cardiac pathology that represents a connection between the pulmonary venous and cardinal systems. The aim of the present study was to discuss morphological and clinical characteristics, as well as diagnostic methods, of experience with LACV.

Methods: Records of 11 patients (4 male, 7 female; mean age 79±1.

Mitral valve regurgitation due to annular dilatation caused by a huge and floating left atrial myxoma.

We describe a case of mitral valve annular dilatation caused by a huge left atrial myxoma obstructing the mitral valve orifice. A 50-year-old man presenting with palpitation was found to have a huge left atrial myxoma protruding into the left ventricle during diastole, causing severe mitral regurgitation. The diagnosis was made with echocardiogram.

Occlusion of the left superior vena cava-coronary sinus connection in a child with Glenn dysfunction by the transcatheter approach.

A 14-year-old male patient presented with cyanosis and tiredness. The patient had undergone a Glenn procedure at age 12 following the echocardiographic determination of a double inlet left ventricle, ventriculoarterial discordance, moderate valvular-subvalvular pulmonary artery stenosis, non-restrictive inlet ventricular septal defect and right ventricle hypoplasia; his oxygen saturation was 70%. Echocardiography evaluation showed retrograde flow from the vena cava superior to the innominate vein and a left superior vena cava (LSVC) opening into the coronary sinus (CS).

Hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infections in the etiopathogenesis of pemphigus.

Background: Previous studies have shown that some viral infections may be triggers for autoimmune diseases. The role of viral infections in the etiopathogenesis of pemphigus has also been investigated.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between pemphigus and the hepatitis B and C virus infections.

Atypical presentation of an infant with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: pericardial tamponade.

In this report, we present a five-month-old female patient with a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). This patient was accepted by our clinic after a sudden deterioration in her clinical condition. We performed echocardiography and observed a 17 mm pericardial fluid near the left ventricle posterior wall, which was seen to compress the right atrium and right ventricle outflow tract.

Coexisting bicuspid aortic and pulmonary valves with normally related great vessels diagnosed by live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Coexistence of bicuspid aortic and pulmonary valves in the same patient is a very rare entity identified mainly during surgery and postmortem. To the best of our knowledge, only one case has been diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography in a newborn with malposition of the great arteries but no images were presented. Here, we are reporting the first case of bicuspid pulmonary and aortic valves diagnosed by live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in an adult with normally related great arteries.

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia detected by an implantable loop recorder in a child.

We present a six-year-old boy with a history of recurrent syncope whose physical examination and family history were inconclusive. Laboratory findings, 12-lead ECG, chest radiography, Holter monitoring, event recorder monitoring, echocardiography, coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography, Brugada challenge test (ajmaline), cranial magnetic resonance imaging, and awake/sleep electroencephalogram were all unremarkable. Since syncope was exercise-induced, an electrophysiology study was also performed, but revealed no inducible ventricular arrhythmias.

Surgical treatment of infective valve endocarditis in children with congenital heart disease.

Objective: This study assesses surgical procedures, operative outcome, and early and intermediate-term results of infective valve endocarditis in children with congenital heart disease.

Methods: Seven consecutive children (five females, two males; mean age, 10.8 years) who underwent surgery for infective valve endocarditis between 2006 and 2010 were included in the study.