EACVI recommendations on cardiovascular imaging for the detection of embolic sources: endorsed by the Canadian Society of Echocardiography.

Cardioaortic embolism to the brain accounts for approximately 15-30% of ischaemic strokes and is often referred to as 'cardioembolic stroke'. One-quarter of patients have more than one cardiac source of embolism and 15% have significant cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. After a careful work-up, up to 30% of ischaemic strokes remain 'cryptogenic', recently redefined as 'embolic strokes of undetermined source'.

[Correction to the article "Case Series of 103 Children with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Portugal", published on Acta Med Port 2020 Dec;33(12):795-802].

On page 801, fifth, where it reads: "No início da pandemia, teorizou-se que a vacina BCG pudesse ter um efeito protetor relativamente à COVID-19,27,28 mas não se encontrou até à data evidência para tal, não estando atualmente recomendada a vacinação BCG na prevenção da COVID-19.28,29 No nosso estudo, a maioria dos doentes (76%) tinha sido vacinada. Analisámos separadamente o subgrupo de crianças nascidas após janeiro de 2016, altura em que passaram a ser vacinadas apenas as crianças pertencentes a grupos de risco.

[ECMO in Neonates with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: The Experience of a Portuguese ECMO Referral Center].

Introduction: The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is considered by many authors as one of the most important technological advances in the care of newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The main objective of this study was to report the experience of a Portuguese ECMO center in the treatment of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Material And Methods: Descriptive retrospective study of newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia requiring ECMO support in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit from January 2012 to December 2019.

[Case Series of 103 Children with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Portugal].

Introduction: The North Lisbon University Hospital Center was activated for referral of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients on the 11th March 2020. The aim of this study is to describe the experience at the Department of Pediatrics in the approach and the clinical outcomes of infected children.

Material And Methods: A descriptive observational study was performed.

Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography for the Assessment of Atrial Function during Fetal Life.

Introduction: Speckle-tracking echocardiography has become a major tool in the evaluation of heart function. Atrial strain has emerged as an important component in the assessment of cardiac function, but there is a paucity of prenatal data. The aim of this study was to describe our initial experience of measurement of atrial strain in fetuses, with respect to both feasibility and the strain patterns observed.

The Influence of Atrial Strain on Functional Capacity in Patients with the Fontan Circulation.

Speckle-tracking echocardiography has been used to assess atrial function. This analysis is feasible in univentricular hearts. The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between atrial strain and functional capacity in the Fontan circulation.

Passive Transfer of Hepatitis B Antibodies through Intravenous Immunoglobulin in a Neonate.

Passive transfer of antibodies secondary to intravenous immunoglobulin infusion is a rare but important side effect that can lead to the wrong diagnosis and therapeutic decisions. It has never been reported in a newborn. A male newborn, vaccinated against hepatitis B and diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, presented positive hepatitis B core antibodies at 12 days of life.

Pseudoaneurysm of the aortic arch early after coarctation repair in the neonatal period.

Aortic arch aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication early after coarctation repair in the neonatal period. We report the case of a newborn with a ventricular septal defect and aortic coarctation with a hypoplastic aortic arch that developed a large aortic arch pseudoaneurysm following a radically extended end-to-end coarctation repair. Successful surgical correction of the pseudoaneurysm was performed.

Sports practice predicts better functional capacity in children and adults with Fontan circulation.

Background: Peak oxygen uptake (peak VO) and its decline predict death or serious cardiovascular adverse events in patients with Fontan circulation. Our aim was to study VO in a population of Fontan patients with variable age and contemporary surgical correction, and find predictors of functional status which could lead to management changes.

Methods: Prospective cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed on a treadmill.

Giant pseudo-aneurysm of the right ventricular outflow tract after Tetralogy of Fallot repair.

Images of the diagnosis and correction of a pseudo-aneurysm at the right ventricular outflow tract, one of the rarest complications of Tetralogy of Fallot surgical correction.

Abdominal aorta interruption and CHD.

We report a rare case of CHD and abdominal aorta interruption. Renal hypertension was the first sign of the abdominal aortic malformation. The aetiology of abdominal aortic interruption remains unclear, it could be congenital or acquired.

[A rare case of two mechanisms of prosthetic valve dysfunction in the same patient].

Prosthetic valve dysfunction is a significant clinical event. Determining its etiological mechanism and severity can be difficult. The authors present the case of a 50-year-old man, with two mechanical valve prostheses in aortic and mitral positions, hospitalized for decompensated heart failure.