The significance of ductoscopy of mammary ducts in the diagnostics of breast neoplasms.

Introduction: Ductoscopy is a low invasive method enabling the diagnostics of intraductal proliferative lesions in breasts. Fiberoptic ductoscopy (FDS) is important in the diagnosis of patients with pathological nipple discharge. There are attempts to apply FDS in patients with breast cancer without the presence of nipple discharge.

Kinetics of C-reactive protein in children with congenital heart diseases in the early period after cardiosurgical treatment with extracorporeal circulation.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) serum kinetics in children without clinical signs of infection after atrial and ventricular septal defects closure in terms of extracorporeal circulation (ECC).

Material/methods: Fifty-two patients met inclusion criteria and were divided into 2 groups: group A (antibiotic prophylaxis with cefazolin given up to 48 h postoperatively) and group B (antibiotic prophylaxis with amoxicillin and clavunic acid given more than 48 h postoperatively). The CRP was measured perioperatively in both groups.

Proximal ductus arteriosus stenosis after the hybrid stage I procedure in a newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

We present a case of a severely ill newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome after the hybrid stage I procedure, with right systemic ventricle insufficiency due to proximal ductus arteriosus stenosis. The child was successfully treated with percutaneous second PDA stent implantation.

Reconstruction of the left-sided brachiocephalic trunk after vascular ring operation in left-handed child with Kommerell's diverticulum.

We report a case of a 2-year-old girl with prenatal diagnosis of vascular ring composed of a right-sided aortic arch, a left ligamentum arteriosum, and a left subclavian artery (arteria lusoria sin) originating from a retroesophageal Kommerell's diverticulum, who was referred for surgery with symptoms related to local compression - severe dysphagia and respiratory disorders. Through the left posterolateral thoracotomy, a ligamentum arteriosum between the Kommerell's diverticulum and the left pulmonary artery was divided and because of left-handedness of the child a brachiocephalic trunk was reconstructed in the fashion of anastomosis of the left subclavian artery and the left common carotid artery, originating from the ascending aorta.

Miniinvasive interventional bridge to major surgical repair of critical aortic coarctation in a newborn with severe multiorgan failure.

We present a case of a severely ill newborn with complex coarctation, multiorgan failure and massive oedema, who was treated with emergency stenting of the isthmus on the second day of life, which was followed by surgical stent removal and repair of the arch on the 29(th) day, after stabilization of his general status. Interventional percutaneous direct stent implantation was performed, using a coronary stent (Abbott Multi-Link Vision Coronary Stent 3.5 mm/15 mm, USA) to cover the area of the aortic isthmus in the newborn.

Gdansk Hybrid Heartlink Programme (GHHP) - we need to share the experience with miniinvasive hybrid procedures in borderline babies.

The Gdansk Hybrid Heartlink Programme follows the concept of the hybrid procedures that combine the advantages of classic surgical operations with intraoperative cardiology interventions. With time and our growing experience, we found that hybrid methods were especially beneficial in cardiac emergencies in borderline babies, who would not meet separate criteria either for surgery or for cardiac interventions. Hybrid strategies appeared safe and effective for patients with anatomical variants unsuitable either for classic surgical or interventional procedures introduced alone.

Hybrid approach for closure of muscular ventricular septal defects.

Background: The complexity of ventricular septal defects in early infancy led to development of new mini-invasive techniques based on collaboration of cardiac surgeons with interventional cardiologists, called hybrid procedures. Hybrid therapies aim to combine the advantages of surgical and interventional techniques in an effort to reduce the invasiveness. The aim of this study was to present our approach with mVSD patients and initial results in the development of a mini-invasive hybrid procedure in the Gdansk Hybrid Heartlink Programme (GHHP) at the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Pomeranian Centre of Traumatology in Gdansk, Poland.

Bloody pericardial tamponade in a child treated for pneumonia mimicking a lung tumor and infiltration of the heart.

We present the dramatic course of a female 5-year-old child with pneumonia and symptoms similar to local compression of the pericardium by a tumorous mass originating from the left lung. The child was treated with antibiotics for pneumonia with bilateral pleural effusions that required chest drainage. On the 10(th) day of therapy there was sudden anemia observed with the echocardiographic finding of acute cardiac tamponade.

Hybrid technique for muscular ventricular septal defect closure.

Since 2008 we have performed 10 hybrid procedures for perventricular muscular ventricular septal defects (mVSD) closure. The mean age was 8.5 months (range 2.

Miniinvasive hybrid procedure for device migration after percutaneous closure of persistent arterial duct: a case report.

We report a case of an 8-month-old girl admitted to the Department of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, Pomeranian Centre of Traumatology in Gdansk with migration of an Amplatzer Duct Occluder II device (AGA Med. Corp., USA) to the left pulmonary artery after interventional patent arterial duct (PDA) closure.

Candidemia in children after complex congenital heart defects surgery treated with caspofungin--our own experience and a review of literature.

Background: Invasive fungal infections due to Candida species constitute an increasing clinical problem. There are no guidelines for the management of candidemia in children undergoing surgical procedures for congenital heart defects (CHD). The aim of the study was to draw attention to the problem of candidemia in children who are operated on due to congenital heart defects.

Delayed closure of multiple muscular ventricular septal defects in an infant after coarctation repair and a hybrid procedure--a case report.

There are several strategies of surgical approach for the repair of multiple muscular ventricular septal defects (mVSDs), but none leads to a fully predictable, satisfactory therapeutic outcome in infants. We followed a concept of treating multiple mVSDs consisting of a hybrid approach based on intraoperative perventricular implantation of occluding devices. In this report, we describe a 2-step procedure consisting of a final hybrid approach for multiple mVSDs in the infant following initial coarctation repair with pulmonary artery banding in the newborn.