Evaluation of the Effectiveness of an Interdisciplinary Preventive Oral Hygiene Program for Children with Congenital Heart Disease.

It is recognized that children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are predisposed to having poorer oral health. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary preventive oral hygiene program (POHP) for children with CHD. The aim was the reduction of the incidence of dental caries, as well as improvement of oral hygiene.

High ECG Risk-Scores Predict Late Gadolinium Enhancement on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in HCM in the Young.

An ECG risk-score has been described that predicts high risk of subsequent cardiac arrest in young patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Myocardial fibrosis measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) also affects prognosis. We assessed whether an ECG risk-score could be used as an indicator of myocardial fibrosis or perfusion deficit on CMR in HCM.

Symptom-orientated oral hygiene for children after heart transplantation: Effectiveness of a standardized prophylactic program.

Children with CHD, especially heart-transplanted patients, are predisposed to have caries lesions, gingivitis and other oral findings like gingival hyperplasia. The aim of the study was the implementation of a specific oral hygiene program in these patients and its effect on the improvement of oral health, especially gingival overgrowth. For this, we used a newly developed systematic GHI to evaluate and describe this gingival alteration.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Earlier Surgical Repair for Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Anomalies and the Agreement Between Children and Their Parents.

Children diagnosed with right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT) anomalies require surgical repair early in life, reoperations and lifelong follow-up. The aim is to comprehensively describe their health related quality of life (HRQoL) and to assess the agreement in this regard between children and parents. Child- and parent-reported HRQoL was assessed in 97 children aged 8-18 years using three different HRQoL questionnaires.

A National Survey: Current Clinical Practice in Pediatric Anesthesia for Congenital Heart Surgery.

Background: Providing anesthesia for pediatric patients undergoing congenital cardiac surgery is complex and requires profound knowledge and clinical experience. Prospective studies on best anesthetic management are missing, partially due to different standards. The aim of the present study was to survey the current standard practice in anesthetic management in pediatric cardiac surgical centers in Germany.

Anesthesia for bilateral pulmonary banding as part of hybrid stage I approach palliating neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Background: Neonatal management of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and complex remains a challenging task, whereby the "hybrid" palliation is often reserved for high-risk patients as a "rescue" procedure.

Aim: This study documents the anesthetic challenges and potential complications associated with the Giessen hybrid stage I approach.

Methods: The Giessen hybrid stage I approach is focused on surgical bilateral pulmonary artery banding.

Magnetic resonance imaging of patients with epicardial leads: in vitro evaluation of temperature changes at the lead tip.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the potential heating effects of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the presence of epicardial leads, which are connected to a device or abandoned, using a series of in vitro measurements.

Methods: The heating effects of MRI in a 1.5-T scanner were measured at the lead tip in a gel-filled tank.

2019 updated consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric pulmonary hypertension: The European Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease Network (EPPVDN), endorsed by AEPC, ESPR and ISHLT.

The European Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease Network is a registered, non-profit organization that strives to define and develop effective, innovative diagnostic methods and treatment options in all forms of pediatric pulmonary hypertensive vascular disease, including pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, PH associated with congenital heart disease (CHD), persistent PH of the newborn, and related cardiac dysfunction. The executive writing group members conducted searches of the PubMed/MEDLINE bibliographic database (1990-2018) and held face-to-face and web-based meetings. Ten section task forces voted on the updated recommendations, based on the 2016 executive summary.

Multicentre reference values for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging derived ventricular size and function for children aged 0-18 years.

Aims: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is an important tool in the assessment of paediatric cardiac disease. Reported reference values of ventricular volumes and masses in the paediatric population are based on small cohorts and several methodologic differences between studies exist. We sought to create steady-state free precession (SSFP) CMR reference values for biventricular volumes and mass by combining data of previously published studies and re-analysing these data in a standardized manner.

Association of Soluble ST2 Serum Levels With Outcomes in Pediatric Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Prognosis in patients with pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy (PDCM) is urgently required to identify high-risk patients. Elevated soluble ST2 (sST2) is associated with prognosis in adult patients with heart failure. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of sST2 in PDCM.

A Summary of Transplantation Activity in Hungary.

The first kidney transplantation was performed in Hungary by András Németh in 1962. It was a living donor procedure. After many years of silence, organized cadaveric programs were established in Budapest (1973), Szeged (1979), Debrecen (1991), and Pécs (1993).

Reduced Biventricular Volumes and Myocardial Dysfunction Long-term After Pediatric Heart Transplantation Assessed by CMR.

Background: Long-term cardiac remodeling after heart transplantation (HT) in children has been insufficiently characterized. The aim of our study was to evaluate ventricular size in HT patients using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, to find underlying factors related to potentially abnormal cardiac dimensions and to study its impact on functional class and ventricular function.

Methods: Seventy-five pediatric HT recipients (age 14.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Adjustment of Children and Adolescents with Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators: A Systematic Review.

The absence of cardiac symptoms, the improved exercise tolerance and the increased life expectancy are the advantages of a successful cardiac device therapy. Nevertheless, the fact of a lifelong device dependency, the inherent possibility of device malfunction and the progression of the underlying heart disease may impact the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the psychological adjustment of these individuals. To date, an overview of findings on these topics is lacking.

Development and validation of a risk prediction model in patients with adult congenital heart disease.

Aims: To develop and validate a clinically useful risk prediction tool for patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD).

Methods And Results: A risk model was developed in a prospective cohort of 602 patients with moderate/complex ACHD who routinely visited the outpatient clinic of a tertiary care centre in the Netherlands (2011-2013). This model was externally validated in a retrospective cohort of 402 ACHD patients (Czech Republic, 2004-2013).

Prenatal Diagnosis of Single Ventricle Physiology Impacts on Cardiac Morbidity and Mortality.

We sought to evaluate the impact of prenatal diagnosis on morbidity and mortality in single ventricle (SV) lesions. All consecutive patients with pre- or postnatally diagnosed SV physiology admitted to our centre between January 2001 and June 2013 were reviewed. Primary endpoints included survival until 30 days after bidirectional cavopulmonary connection (BCPC) without transplant or BCPC takedown.

Longitudinal Deformation of the Right Ventricle in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: A Comparative Study of 2D-Feature Tracking Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 2D-Speckle Tracking Echocardiography.

In hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), long-term outcome is closely related to right ventricular function. Echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are routinely used for functional assessment. MRI 2D-tissue feature tracking (2D-FT) allows quantification of myocardial deformation but has not yet been applied to HLHS patients.

Long-term outcome of epicardial implantable cardioverter-defibrillator systems in children: results justify its preference in paediatric patients.

Aims: The question of whether transvenous or epicardial implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) system is more beneficial in children and adolescents is controversially discussed. We sought to analyse the long-term outcome after implantation of ICDs using epicardial pacing/sensing and pleural shock leads.

Methods And Results: Retrospective analysis of 31 consecutive patients undergoing a total of 55 implantations of epicardial/pleural ICD systems below 20 years of age.

Ventricular function and vascular dimensions after Norwood and hybrid palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Objective: Norwood and hybrid procedure are two options available for initial palliation of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Our study aimed to assess potential differences in right ventricular (RV) function and pulmonary artery dimensions using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in survivors with HLHS.

Methods: 42 Norwood (mean age 2.

NT-proBNP predicts mortality in adults with transposition of the great arteries late after Mustard or Senning correction.

Objective: The patients after Mustard and Senning corrections of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) are at an increased risk of unexpected death. The aim of this study was to identify markers allowing risk stratification of patients after atrial switch correction of TGA to provide them with optimum care.

Methods And Results: In this study, 87 patients were retrospectively evaluated after atrial switch correction of TGA followed-up between 2005 and 2015.

The provision of pediatric cardiac anesthesia services in Germany: current status of structural and personnel organization.

Background: Anesthesia for pediatric cardiac surgery requires a high level of expert knowledge. There are currently no recommendations and standards for anesthetic management for congenital cardiac surgery in Germany.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the current status of structural and personnel anesthetic standards at pediatric cardiac surgery centers in Germany.