The role of FDG-PET-CT in pediatric cardiac patients and patients with congenital heart defects.

Aim: Medical imaging by using FDG-PET/CT (PET-CT) can detect, confirm or eliminate with high sensitivity areas of suspected infections in case of persistent fever of unknown origin in combination with other bacteriological examinations. The aim of this study was to assess the potential role of PET-CT in detecting or excluding infections or other inflammatory processes in patients with congenital heart defects (CHD). In addition we wanted to evaluate the practical impact of PET-CT on the subsequent clinical management.

Fetal colour tissue Doppler imaging (cTDI): biventricular reference ranges for the time segments of the cardiac cycle in second and third trimesters of gestation.

Purpose: To construct biventricular reference ranges for isovolumic time intervals (isovolumic contraction time, ICT; isovolumic relaxation time, IRT) and ejection time (ET) for colour tissue Doppler imaging (cTDI) between 15 and 37 weeks' in healthy fetuses.

Methods: This was a prospective multicentre cross-sectional study involving 160 singleton pregnancies between 15 and 37 weeks of gestation, using cTDI. ICT, ET, IRT and myocardial performance index (MPI) were analysed offline using a small region of interest (ROI) within the basal part of the right and left ventricular wall immediately distal to the annulus.

Color Tissue Doppler to Analyze Fetal Cardiac Time Intervals: Normal Values and Influence of Sample Gate Size.

Purpose: To assess the time intervals of the cardiac cycle in healthy fetuses in the second and third trimester using color tissue Doppler imaging (cTDI) and to evaluate the influence of different sizes of sample gates on time interval values.

Materials And Methods: Time intervals were measured from the cTDI-derived Doppler waveform using a small and large region of interest (ROI) in healthy fetuses.

Results: 40 fetuses were included.

"Intraoperative hybrid stenting of recurrent coarctation and arch hypoplasia with large stents in patients with univentricular hearts".

Background: Obstruction of the reconstructed aortic arch, tubular hypoplasia and recurrent coarctation (RC) is an important risk factor in univentricular physiology. For the past two years we have adopted the concept of intraoperative hybrid stenting of RC and arch hypoplasia with large stents in patients with univentricular hearts as standard care procedure.

Method/result: Retrospective analysis of the anatomy and procedural outcome of 14 patients was scheduled for intraoperative stenting of the aortic arch (12 during surgery for BCPS, 2 during Fontan completion).

Use of a new low profile Occlutech PLD device for closure of Fontan fenestrations.

For some higher risk patients, fenestrations are still created in total cavopulmonary connection conduits completing the Fontan circulation for univentricular hearts. If these fenestrations remain patent and hemodynamics are favorable, they are closed to improve oxygenation and exercise tolerance and to decrease the risk of paradoxical emboli. Depending on the type of fenestration, different devices are used.

Heterogenous haemodynamic effects of adaptive servoventilation therapy in sleeping patients with heart failure and Cheyne-Stokes respiration compared to healthy volunteers.

This study investigated the haemodynamic effects of adaptive servoventilation (ASV) in heart failure (HF) patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) versus healthy controls. Twenty-seven HF patients with CSR and 15 volunteers were ventilated for 1 h using a new ASV device (PaceWave™). Haemodynamics were continuously and non-invasively recorded at baseline, during ASV and after ventilation.

Echocardiographically derived effective valve opening area in mitral prostheses: a comparative analysis of various calculations using continuity equation and pressure half time method.

Detection of dysfunctional mitral valve prostheses (MP) remains complex even though being optimized by considering echocardiographically derived prosthetic effective orifice area (VA). The purpose was to compare VA in MP, calculated by the continuity equation (CE) using peak velocities (CEVpeak), mean velocities (CEVmean), velocity-time integrals (CEVTI) and the pressure half time method using 220 ms as constant first (PHT220) as well as optimized constants. In 267 consecutive patients with normally functioning MP, we investigated VA within the first postoperative month.

Respiratory effects of adaptive servoventilation therapy in patients with heart failure and Cheyne-Stokes respiration compared to healthy volunteers.

Background: Nocturnal adaptive servoventilation (ASV) therapy is now frequently used to treat Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR), which is highly prevalent in patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure (HF) and characterized by periodical breathing (hyperventilation).

Objectives: This study analyzed and compared the acute effects of a novel ASV device on carbon dioxide pressure (pCO2) and oxygen saturation (SaO2) in HF patients with CSR and healthy volunteers. The influence of being asleep or awake on the ASV algorithm was also determined.

Serological evidence of increased susceptibility to varicella-zoster virus reactivation or reinfection in natalizumab-treated patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Serious adverse drug reactions of disease-modifying drugs in multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy may include enhanced susceptibility to reactivation of neurotropic herpes viruses like varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and the John Cunningham (JC) polyomavirus.

Objective: Because symptomatic reactivation of these viruses are rare events, we determined the incidence of rises in anti-VZV IgG antibody levels as a potential marker for enhanced susceptibility to subclinical and symptomatic reactivation of neurotropic viruses.

Methods: Anti-VZV IgG levels were measured in paired serum samples taken 6-8 months apart from natalizumab-treated MS patients, healthy blood donors and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients.

Substantial radiation reduction in pediatric and adult congenital heart disease interventions with a novel X-ray imaging technology.

Background: Pediatric catheterization exposes patients to varying radiation doses. Concerns over the effects of X-ray radiation dose on the patient population have increased in recent years. This study aims at quantifying the patient radiation dose reduction after the introduction of an X-ray imaging technology using advanced real time image noise reduction algorithms and optimized acquisition chain for fluoroscopy and exposure in a pediatric and adult population with congenital heart disease.

Single center experience: Implantation failures, early, and late complications after implantation of a partially biodegradable ASD/PFO-device (BioStar®).

Introduction: In the search for a biodegradable device that leaves nothing but the tissue of the patient after complete endotheliazation and absorption, the BioSTAR® device was introduced in 2007 (CE Mark in European community and HPB in Canada) for ASD and PFO closure. It consists of a metal framework covered by a biodegradable membrane generated from a layer of porcine collagen that is broken down and absorbed over time. In a sheep model, the results were promising, showing complete closure of the defect with degradation of approximately 90% of the implanted membrane material after two years.

Performance of conventional and enhanced adaptive servoventilation (ASV) in heart failure patients with central sleep apnea who have adapted to conventional ASV.

Purpose: Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) is a positive pressure ventilator support system to normalize ventilation in patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR). The latest generation enhanced ASV device (PaceWave; ResMed) has a new feature--auto-adjustment of EPAP. This study tested the hypothesis that enhanced ASV with auto-adjustment of EPAP (PaceWave) is non-inferior to conventional ASV (AutoSetCS).

Implantation of the new Nit-Occlud PDA-R device in children below 10 kilogram.

Background: Interventional closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has become a common and safe procedure in most pediatric cath labs. Interventional treatment of PDAs still remains a challenge in those children with low body weight and a large PDA. The Nit-Occlud PDA-R® device was developed and especially designed for large PDAs.

Cardiac or Other Implantable Electronic Devices and Sleep-disordered Breathing - Implications for Diagnosis and Therapy.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is of growing interest in cardiology because SDB is a highly prevalent comorbidity in patients with a variety of cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of SDB is particularly high in patients with cardiac dysrhythmias and/or heart failure. In this setting, many patients now have implantable cardiac devices, such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators or implanted cardiac resynchronisation therapy devices (CRT).

Implications of revised AASM rules on scoring apneic and hypopneic respiratory events in patients with heart failure with nocturnal Cheyne-Stokes respiration.

Study Objectives: This study investigated the implications of the revised scoring rules of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in patients with heart failure (HF) with Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR).

Methods: Ninety-one patients (NYHA ≥II, LVEF ≤45 %; age 73.6 ± 11.

Compression, distortion and dislodgement of large caliber stents in congenital heart defects caused by cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a case series and review of the literature.

Stenting of vascular, extracardiac or lately intracardiac stenosis has become an established interventional treatment for a variety of problems in congenital or acquired heart disease. Most stent procedures are completed successfully and the long-term outcome is favorable in the majority of cases. Stent collapse or deformation is a well recognized entity in peripheral stents and can be attributed to insufficient radial force; it can also be attributed to excessive external forces, like deformation of stents in the right ventricular outflow tract, where external compression is combined with continuous movement caused by the beating heart.

Cesarean section in a patient with non-compaction cardiomyopathy managed with ECMO.

Isolated ventricular non-compaction is a rare cardiomyopathy associated with left heart failure, severe arrhythmias and thromboembolism. We report about our interdisciplinary strategy in a patient with severe isolated ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy scheduled for caesarean section in general anaesthesia. Monitoring included placement of an arterial line, a central venous catheter and a pulmonary artery catheter with pacing option.

Vitamin D supplementation, body weight and human serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D response: a systematic review.

Purpose: There is considerable variation in incremental circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels on vitamin D supplements, even when similar age groups and identical vitamin D doses are compared. We therefore aimed to investigate the importance of body weight for the dose-response relation in circulating 25OHD.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of randomized placebo-controlled vitamin D supplementation trials in all age groups ≥10 years to clarify the influence of body weight and other parameters on incremental circulating 25OHD levels (difference between baseline and in-study values) in vitamin D-deficient and non-deficient individuals.

Validation of blood pressure monitoring using pulse transit time in heart failure patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration undergoing adaptive servoventilation therapy.

Purpose: Using pulse transit time (PTT) and an ECG appears to be a promising alternative for invasive or noninvasive monitoring of blood pressure (BP). This study assessed the validity of PTT for BP monitoring in clinical practice.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with chronic heart failure (HF; 27 male, 70.