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Cardiol Young 2021 Jun 11:1-3. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Department of Cardiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

In older adults with patent ductus arteriosus, CT is widely used for duct visualisation because angiography images can be inadequate for evaluation. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman with a highly calcified patent ductus arteriosus whose CT images were insufficient for accurate measurement. Intravascular ultrasonography is useful for sizing of and guiding device closure of the duct. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2021 Jun 9;21(1):270. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Neonatal Unit, Cambridge University Foundation Trust, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK.

Background: This study aimed to provide UK data describing the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) surgery in the neonatal population, including: pre-ligation management, and outcomes until discharge. We used British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) methodology; collecting data via questionnaires for preterm neonates undergoing PDA ligation (PDAL) between 1st Sept 2012 - 30th Sept 2013. Infants born less than 37 weeks gestation, who underwent PDAL prior to discharge home, with no other structural cardiac abnormality, were included. Read More

Andes Pediatr 2021 Feb 22;92(1):122-130. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Servicio de Neonatología, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Santiago, Chile.

Functional echocardiography emerges as a clinical tool for the comprehensive clinical evaluation to assess the patient's hemodynamic status, after demonstrating that the clinical methods traditionally used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are limited and often applied late. This allows us to establish a more accurate hemodynamic diagnosis and thus improve neonatal morbidity and mortality, since it allows making recommendations based on physiology, resulting in a rational and individualized treatment plan. There are scenarios where its usefulness has been seen, such as the inadequate transition of the very low birth weight newborn, hemodynamic instability, assessment of Patent Ductus Arteriosus and its hemodynamic repercussion, and pulmonary hypertension. Read More

Andes Pediatr 2021 Feb 22;92(1):99-103. Epub 2021 Feb 22.

Clínica Alemana Santiago, Santiago, Chile.

Objective: To describe an innovative alternative to exploratory laparotomy in a newborn with a sub capsular hepatic hematoma secondary to umbilical vein catheterization.

Clinical Case: A preterm baby with a history of hyaline membrane disease, pulmonary hypertension, and large patent ductus arteriosus, requiring mechanical ventilation and the use of vasoactive drugs. Umbilical catheters were inserted and through an abdomen X-ray, we observed their proper position. Read More

Pak J Med Sci 2021 May-Jun;37(3):695-699

Muhammad Kashif, FCPS (Pediatric Surgery), Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Children's Hospital & The Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan.

Objectives: To assess the frequency and pattern of associated congenital heart disease (CHD) among patients with "non-cardiac congenital defects".

Methods: An observational study was done at Paediatric Cardiology Department, The Children's Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan, from December 2018 to November 2019. Children from birth to 15 years having non-cardiac congenital defects, referred for cardiac evaluation from surgical unit during the study period were enrolled. Read More

Ann Pediatr Cardiol 2021 Apr-Jun;14(2):242-243. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus is the standard of care. Retrieval of a duct occluder device is generally easy until it is detached from the delivery cable. We report two instances of failed retrieval of the device due to sheath tip invagination. Read More

Ann Pediatr Cardiol 2021 Apr-Jun;14(2):204-207. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Cardiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Coarctation of aorta (CoA) is one of the common congenital heart diseases. The two approaches for intervention in CoA include surgical and transcatheter (TC). Out of the two TC interventions available, stenting has been proved better than balloon angioplasty. Read More

J Formos Med Assoc 2021 Jun 4. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background: To examine whether the patterns of head-size growth trajectory in the first month after birth are associated with different susceptibility to cognitive impairment outcomes at age 24 months.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 590 infants of very-preterm survivors born between 2001 and 2016 receiving neurodevelopmental assessment at age 24 months. 403 children were enrolled for analysis after excluding infants with small-for-gestational age and severe brain injury. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021 Jun 6:1-4. Epub 2021 Jun 6.

Neonatal Surgery Unit, Pediatric Surgery Division, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.

Background: Anastomosis near the ileocecal valve (ICV) are controversial due to the increased pressure on the suture; in this situation, the valve could be removed at a first stage or at the moment of stoma closure. However, preservation of the ICV has proved important benefits in the long term. The aim of this study is to evaluate its feasibility in neonates with focal intestinal perforation (FIP). Read More

Front Pediatr 2021 19;9:694606. Epub 2021 May 19.

Department of Pediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW), Maastricht, Netherlands.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Interv 2021 Jun 7:CIRCINTERVENTIONS121010600. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

University of Tennessee Health Science Centre, LeBonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis.

Heart Vessels 2021 Jun 5. Epub 2021 Jun 5.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Osaka City General Hospital, Osaka, Japan.

Absent pulmonary valve (APV) syndrome with tricuspid atresia or tricuspid stenosis (TA/TS) is an extremely rare malformation recently reported as a variant of APV with intact ventricular septum (VS). The condition, however, has univentricular physiology and unique structural and clinical features. The purpose of this study was to update the current knowledge about this condition by describing long-term outcomes of three new cases and reviewing the available literatures. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Jun;100(22):e26094

Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

Rationale: Multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome (MSMDS) is a genetic disease that affects multiple organs. The report here concerns a patient with MSMDS, who is known so far as the youngest among all the reported patients. In addition to the typical manifestations, we observed previously unreported ocular abnormalities, including persistent anterior tunica vasculosa lentis (TVL) and early-onset retinal arteriolar tortuosity, by the fluorescein angiography (FA). Read More

Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med 2021 Jun 25;8(2):76-81. Epub 2019 Nov 25.

Clinical Pharmacy Department, Pharmaceutical Care Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a serious complication of premature (<32 weeks) deliveries, especially in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW; <1500 g) neonates. Infants developing severe IVH are more prone to long-term developmental disabilities. Although 62%-79% of women in Saudi Arabia receive antenatal steroids, IVH incidence remains high. Read More

Curr Clin Pharmacol 2021 Jun 3. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences University, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in very low birth weight (<1500g) infants.

Objective: In our study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of gentamicin treatment, which is frequently used for early-onset sepsis on ductal patency.

Method: We performed a single-center retrospective review of charts of preterm infants <32 weeks gestation with birth weight <1500 grams born between June 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, at the neonatal intensive care unit. Read More

Cureus 2021 Apr 28;13(4):e14731. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Cardiovascular Surgery, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Afyonkarahisar, TUR.

Introduction Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart disease that, if left untreated, can lead to pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, and death. Here, we aimed to assess postoperative cardiac hemodynamic changes and surgical techniques, as well as early and late postoperative findings in surgically treated PDA patients. Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed the data belonging to 126 patients whose PDA was surgically closed in our clinic from January 2001 to December 2012. Read More

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021 Jun 2. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, University of HealthSciences Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.

Background: The mini-sternotomy has become a common approach of choice for a wide range of congenital defects requiring minimally invasive surgery. Here, we aimed to present closed heart surgery results via limited upper mini-sternotomy in the newborn and infants.

Methods: A total of 46 infants who underwent pulmonary artery banding, patent ductus arteriosus ligation, and aortopexy via limited upper mini-sternotomy between December 2017 and October 2020 were enrolled. Read More

Children (Basel) 2021 May 15;8(5). Epub 2021 May 15.

Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan.

Invasive interventions have been conducted in preterm infants with significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) when medical treatment has failed, and methods of invasive intervention have been reported. Surgical ligation via lateral thoracotomy has been a well-established procedure for decades. Recently, transcatheter occlusion has been safely and feasibly applied to the premature population. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2021 May 31. Epub 2021 May 31.

Department of Pediatrics, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan.

Objective:  The study aimed to investigate the neonatal outcomes of infants born to mothers on hemodialysis.

Study Design:  This retrospective, case-control, and observational study included 17 infants born to 16 mothers on dialysis in 2003 to 2016. We compared their clinical characteristics to those of 51 gestational age- and sex-matched control infants. Read More

Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021 May 26:1-4. Epub 2021 May 26.

Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3040 Burnett- Womack building, Suite 3808, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA.

We present a case of a neonate with trisomy 21, ductal-dependent aortic coarctation, and severe respiratory failure secondary to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. The neonate was managed with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO), palliative stenting of the coarctation, and a vascular plug occlusion of a large patent ductus arteriosus. The patient was successfully weaned off extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2021 25;38:219. Epub 2021 Feb 25.

Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Mohammad Hoesin General Hospital, Palembang, Sumatera Selatan, Indonesia.

Percutaneous transcatheter closure has gained acceptance for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) management ever since its introduction, including the management residual left-to-right shunts following surgical ligations. It is preferred than the more invasive surgical closure. While large PDA is closed to prevent heart failure, the decision to close a small hemodynamically insignificant PDA is still a debatable issue. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 27;14(5). Epub 2021 May 27.

Cardiology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.

A 40-year-old woman presented with fever of unknown origin (FUO) for 2 months. Without a definitive diagnosis and having received multiple empirical antibiotics from outside without relief, she was referred to our centre. Cardiac auscultation was remarkable for a grade 3/6 continuous murmur in the upper left sternal border. Read More

Trials 2021 May 26;22(1):368. Epub 2021 May 26.

University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Background: The Baby-OSCAR trial is a multi-centre, randomised, placebo-controlled parallel group trial of early treatment of large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with ibuprofen in extremely preterm infants. This paper describes the statistical analysis plan for the short-term health outcomes of the Baby-OSCAR trial.

Methods And Design: This is a randomised controlled trial to determine if early-targeted treatment of a large PDA with parenteral ibuprofen in extremely preterm babies improves short and long-term health and economic outcomes. Read More

CJC Open 2021 May 29;3(5):684-686. Epub 2020 Dec 29.

Department of Medicine, Royal University Hospital, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Abnormal Left Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital coronary anomaly in which the left main coronary artery arises from the pulmonary trunk, resulting in a left to right shunt. ALCAPA is associated with septal defects and patent ductus arteriosus. The case discussed had a secundum atrial septal defect. Read More

Sci Rep 2021 May 21;11(1):10689. Epub 2021 May 21.

Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonjuro Gangnamgu, Seoul, 06273, Republic of Korea.

To evaluate national epidemiologic data on infants treated for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in Korea and analyze outcomes associated with different PDA treatments. We retrospectively evaluated data on 12,336 patients diagnosed with PDA (International Classification of Diseases-10 code: Q250) between 2015 and 2018 from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database. Among them, 1623 patients underwent surgical ligation (code: O1671). Read More

J Pediatr 2021 May 18. Epub 2021 May 18.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Newborn and Developmental Pediatrics, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address:

Objective: To investigate the circulatory physiology of hypotension during the first day after birth among stable extremely preterm neonates.

Study Design: Case-control study of neonates born at ≤27 weeks gestational age with hypotension, defined as mean blood pressure in mmHg less than gestational age in weeks for at least 1 hour during the first 24 hours after birth, who underwent comprehensive echocardiography assessment before commencement of cardiovascular drugs. Neonates with hypotension (n = 14) were matched by gestational age and intensity of respiratory support with normotensive neonates (n = 27) who underwent serial echocardiography during the first day after birth, and relatively contemporaneous echocardiography assessments were used for comparison. Read More

Arch Cardiol Mex 2021 May 18. Epub 2021 May 18.

Neonatology Department. Hospital General Tláhuac, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.

Introduction: The echocardiogram is the gold standard, in the diagnosis of the hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hs-PDA) of the premature newborn (PNB). Type B brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) may be useful in the diagnosis and management of CAP-hs.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the utility of BNP as a marker of hemodynamic overload of the patent ductus arteriosus in newborns with gestational age < 32 weeks or weight < 1500 g, and to identify the best cutoff point for BNP levels that would best predict a PDA with hemodynamic impact requiring pharmacological and/or surgical treatment. Read More

Pediatr Pulmonol 2021 May 18. Epub 2021 May 18.

Division of Neonatology and Pulmonary Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Objective: The decision for tracheostomy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is highly variable and often dictated by local practice. We aimed to characterize morbidity, mortality, and respiratory outcomes in preterm infants undergoing tracheostomy for severe BPD.

Study Design: We retrospectively reviewed a single-center 4-year cohort of all infants born <33 weeks gestational age (GA) that required tracheostomy due to severe BPD. Read More

Clin Imaging 2021 Mar 18;77:224-229. Epub 2021 Mar 18.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China. Electronic address:

Objectives: To describe clinical and imaging characteristics of an isolated subclavian artery (ISA) in pediatric patients.

Background: ISA is a rare congenital aortic arch anomaly defined as a loss of connection between the subclavian artery and aorta. The clinical manifestations and complications of ISA in children are unclear. Read More

Front Pediatr 2021 30;9:643387. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Department of Neonatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.

This study aims to explore the occurrence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) in preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks, at discharge, and the factors influencing the occurrence of EUGR. A retrospective analysis of 691 preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 34 weeks, born in our hospital over the past 3 years. At discharge, the growth indicators head circumference, weight, and length were used to divide the infants into an EUGR group ( = 255) and the non-EUGR group ( = 436). Read More