Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Arch Plast Surg 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Seattle Children's and Mary Bridge Children's Regional Cardiac Surgery Program, Tacoma, WA, USA.

Congenital absent sternum is a rare birth defect that requires early intervention for optimal long-term outcomes. Descriptions of the repair of absent sternum are limited to case reports, and no preferred method for management has been described. Herein, we describe the use of porcine acellular dermal matrix to reconstruct the sternum of an infant with sternal infection following attempted repair using synthetic mesh. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(10):e14684

"Marie Curie" Emergency Children's Hospital, Constantin Brâncoveanu Avenue, Bucharest, Romania.

Closure of the atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are among the most frequent cardiac interventional procedures. This was a prospective study, which started together with the implementation of a national program of pediatric interventional cardiology in Romania. We used Cocoon devices in 83 consecutive cases from 92 implantations for ASD and PDA. Read More

Kardiol Pol 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Neonatal and Intensive Care Department Medical University of Warsow.

Background: Both gestational and chronological age of the neonate may influence and impair normal function of the delicate and immature myocardium. The transition from foetal to neonatal circulation in preterm neonates is, however, poorly understood.

Aims: This study aimed to compare left ventricular systolic and diastolic function between premature neonates at expected term and term neonates during the postnatal cardiovascular transitional period. Read More

Congenit Heart Dis 2019 Jan;14(1):74-78

Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.

Echocardiographic imaging provides real-time guidance during transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. Transthoracic echocardiogram provides detailed assessment of the PDA and surrounding structures prior to, during, and after transcatheter closure. This article aims to review the different echocardiographic techniques and concepts utilized during transcatheter PDA closure in ELBW infants. Read More

Congenit Heart Dis 2019 Jan;14(1):42-45

Pediatric Cardiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.

Management of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in the premature infant has been a point of controversy for decades as smaller and earlier gestational age infants have been surviving. Increasing experience with catheter-based device closure has generated a new wave of interest in this subject. In this era, echocardiography plays a central role for collaboration within a multispecialty team. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2019 Feb 11;21:34-40. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

PixelBeaker, Chattanooga, TN, USA.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion is one of the more common cardiovascular procedures performed in dogs. Two-dimensional imaging has been the primary method of visualizing the PDA and is the basis of its morphologic description. Transesophageal echocardiographic imaging has further characterized the three-dimensional (3D) variation in ductal morphology and shape (circle, oval). Read More

Vasc Endovascular Surg 2019 Apr 28;53(3):264-266. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

2 Cardiology Department, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Transcatheter closure has become the leading approach for closure of most instances of patent ductus arteriosus. However, there are some complications associated with this procedure. We report a case involving the embolization of a device in the right pulmonary artery during placement. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(2):e13922

Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu.

Rationale: Complex pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF) is unusual, and even rarer in 2 members of a family. PAVF may not appear on chest X-ray or computed tomography imaging, especially in asymptomatic patients, and therapy is limited. Herein, PAVFs occurring in a mother and daughter are described, with the current standard methods of diagnosis and treatment of PAVF. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar 17;33(2):471-477. Epub 2018 Dec 17.

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

Background: German Shepherd dogs (GSD) are predisposed to developing patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and are reportedly prone to type III (tubular) PDA anatomy. Dogs with type III anatomy are not considered favorable candidates for device-based intervention.

Objective: To describe the PDA anatomy, baseline characteristics, and procedural outcome of GSD with PDA. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(49):e13558

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea.

Rationale: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation by open surgery is more difficult and dangerous in elderly patients than in infants. Nowadays, simple and safe interventional catheterization technology is used for the closure of uncomplicated isolated PDAs. Therefore, an alternative less invasive therapeutic option must be developed to treat complicated PDA. Read More

Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi 2018 Oct;46(10):804-809

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dalian Children's Hospital, Dalian 116012, China.

To investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous intervention of children with combined congenital heart abnormality solely guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) . From September 2015 to June 2017, 21 children with combined congenital heart abnormality undergoing percutaneous interventional guided by TTE in Fuwai hospital were enrolled in our study, and the clinical data were retrospective analyzed. The atrial septal defect(ASD) closure, ventricular septal defect(VSD) closure, patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) closure or balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty were performed under the guidance of TTE. Read More

Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2018 Oct;57(5):734-738

Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Bioengineering, Tatung University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Objective: We present prenatal diagnosis of a familial 5p14.3-p14.1 deletion in a fetus with congenital heart disease on prenatal ultrasound. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2019 Jan 10;40(1):216-218. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Saitama Children's Medical Center, 1-2, Shintoshin, Chuou-ku, Saitama, 330-8777, Japan.

In cases involving single ventricles, predicting streaming characteristics is difficult. Unfavorable streaming can cause decreased oxygen saturation. Judging whether desaturation results from decreased pulmonary flow or unfavorable streaming is critical. Read More

Echocardiography 2018 11 29;35(11):1878-1881. Epub 2018 Sep 29.

Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) are very rare condition. In this paper, we report a case of a twenty-year-old female patient with the aneurysm of the pulmonary trunk secondary to the patent arterial duct (PDA) and infection. Diagnosis of PAA was confirmed by echocardiography. Read More

J Pediatr 2018 12 20;203:225-233.e1. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA; California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)-specific changes in patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) management are associated with changes in local outcomes in preterm infants.

Study Design: This retrospective repeated-measures study of aggregated data included infants born 400-1499 g admitted within 2 days of delivery to NICUs participating in the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative. The period 2008-2015 was divided into four 2-year epochs. Read More

Echocardiography 2018 11 17;35(11):1818-1826. Epub 2018 Sep 17.

Department of Cardiology, John Hunter Hospital, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Left atrium (LA) function can be assessed by volumetric measurements, conventional and tissue Doppler, and more recently, deformation imaging using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE). 2DSTE allows for measurement of volume and deformation and can quantify the contribution of the reservoir, conduit, and contraction phase. A common cause for LA dysfunction in very preterm infants is volume overload with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Read More

J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2018 Sep 11. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Department of Nuclear Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chavez, Juan Badiano N° 1, Colonia Seccion XVI, Tlalpan, P.C. 14080, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Echocardiography, ABC Medical Center I.A.P., Sur 136 No. 116, Colonia Las Americas, Alvaro Obregon, P.C. 01120, Mexico City, Mexico. Electronic address:

Anomalous origin of the pulmonary artery branches is a rare phenomenon. We describe a case of an adult with anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery (hemitruncus arteriosus) associated with patent ductus arteriosus. Non-invasive imaging studies played an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up. Read More

J Card Surg 2018 10 11;33(10):691-692. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Cardiothoracic Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Tomography 2018 Jun;4(2):43-45

Department of Physical Therapy, Adventist University of Health Sciences, Orlando, FL.

Prenatal ultrasonography in the early third trimester showed an unusual branching pattern of the right aortic arch. Echocardiography performed 4 h after birth showed the right aortic arch with mirror-image branching, patent ductus arteriosus, and patent foramen ovale. Because the location of the ductus arteriosus was unclear on echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging was performed 3 days after birth. Read More

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2018 Sep;28(9):S157-S159

Department of Internal Medicine, SMBBMC Lyari General Hospital, Karachi.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) usually presents during childhood, less frequently in adolescence, and rarely in late adulthood. The usual mode of presentation is left ventricular failure and respiratory symptoms. Here is a case of a female with patent ductus arteriosus, who was apparently in quite good state of health and gave birth to six offsprings without herself having any problem. Read More

J Pediatr 2018 11 13;202:50-55.e3. Epub 2018 Aug 13.

Division of Neonatology and Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Physiology and Experimental Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Objective: To define the technique of estimating ductal diameter (DD) that best correlates with echocardiographic markers of transductal shunt volume in preterm infants >7 days old with persistent patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective study of 104 neonates born at <30 weeks gestation that had targeted neonatal echocardiography evaluation of PDA performed between 7 and 30 days. We used univariate analysis to determine the association of echocardiographic markers of shunt volume with ductal size definitions: DD, DD indexed to weight, and DD indexed to left pulmonary artery diameter. Read More

Echocardiography 2018 10 13;35(10):1695-1697. Epub 2018 Aug 13.

Division of Cardiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington.

Absent pulmonary valve syndrome is a congenital heart defect usually associated with tetralogy of Fallot. Rarely, absent pulmonary valve syndrome can occur independently of tetralogy of Fallot and presents with an intact ventricular septum and a patent ductus arteriosus. This case report describes the prenatal diagnosis of absent pulmonary valve syndrome with intact ventricular septum via echocardiogram and the postnatal management of the resulting physiologic effects secondary to this rare congenital heart disease. Read More

Heart 2018 11 9;104(22):1887-1890. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Department of Medicine Division of Cardiology, Henry Ford Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Clinical Introduction: An 82-year-old man with a history of coronary artery bypass surgery, hypertension and small bowel gastrointestinal stromal tumour underwent cardiac risk evaluation prior to surgical resection of his tumour. He was asymptomatic from a cardiovascular perspective, but his activity level was less than four metabolic equivalents. Physical examination was notable for a 2/6 systolic murmur at the apex. Read More

JACC Basic Transl Sci 2018 Apr 30;3(2):294-312. Epub 2018 May 30.

Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.

Survival in congenital heart disease has steadily improved since 1938, when Dr. Robert Gross successfully ligated for the first time a patent ductus arteriosus in a 7-year-old child. To continue the gains made over the past 80 years, transformative changes with broad impact are needed in management of congenital heart disease. Read More

J Clin Lab Anal 2018 Nov 6;32(9):e22616. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Division of Neonatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: The role of red cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR) has not previously been mentioned in reports on patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Our objective was to evaluate whether RPR would have a role in the diagnosis and/or prediction of pharmacological closure of PDA.

Methods: Preterm infants' gestational age ≤30 weeks and ≤1500 g who were given first ibuprofen treatment in the first week of life for hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA) were included in the study. Read More

Cardiol Young 2018 Aug 29;28(8):1074-1076. Epub 2018 Jun 29.

3Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Department,Fundación Cardioinfantil,Bogotá,Colombia.

Mowat-Wilson syndrome is a genetic condition due to a mutation in the ZEB2 gene; it affects many systems including the cardiovascular system. The pulmonary arterial sling originates from a failure of development of the proximal portion of the left sixth aortic arch, resulting in an anomalous left pulmonary artery origin from the posterior wall of the right pulmonary artery and the left pulmonary artery crossing to the left lung between the trachea and the oesophagus. We present a 4-month-old infant with Mowat-Wilson syndrome and left pulmonary arterial sling, and discuss the association of these two rare conditions. Read More

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Dec 25;34(12):1969-1975. Epub 2018 Jun 25.

Department of Health Statistics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.

Detailed preoperative imaging of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is critical to ensuring adequate surgical planning and preoperative decision making. The purpose of this study was to describe the computed tomography findings of TAPVC and identify morphologic death risk factors. We conducted a retrospective study included 70 patients with TAPVC between May 2014 and June 2017 in Hunan Children's Hospital. Read More

Paediatr Int Child Health 2018 08 18;38(3):187-192. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

a Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics , Faculty of Medicine , Chiang Mai University , Chiang Mai , Thailand.

Background: In low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) is treated with oral indomethacin (IDC) and ibuprofen (IB) instead of intravenous formulations. No significant differences in efficacy have been reported. However, previous studies had small numbers of VLBW infants (<1500 g). Read More

Echocardiography 2018 07 10;35(7):1049-1051. Epub 2018 Jun 10.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.

Cardiac MRI is a complementary and confirmatory modality to a clinical echocardiography in diagnosing patients with complex adult congenital heart disease, especially in presence of great vessel abnormalities. We present a unique case of a patient with pulmonary hypertension (PH), severe right ventricular hypertrophy, Gerbode defect, and a large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The diagnosis of PDA was not visualized on prior serial echocardiograms and discovered on a comprehensive cardiac MRI/Chest MR angiogram. Read More

Arch Cardiovasc Dis 2018 Dec 3;111(12):722-729. Epub 2018 Jun 3.

Pediatric and Congenital Cardiology Unit, Bordeaux University Hospital, 33604 Pessac, France.

Background: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is still challenging to diagnose in neonates with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Speckle tracking echocardiography allows reliable analysis of myocardial deformation in newborns and seems to provide important insides into regional changes in patients with left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction.

Aims: To assess the interest of LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) measurement for predicting CoA in neonates with PDA and prenatal suspicion. Read More

Indian Pediatr 2018 May;55(5):417-424

Pediatric Cardiologist, Centre de Pediatrie, Clinique des Grangettes, 7 ch des Grangettes, 1224 Chêne-Bougeries, Geneva, Switzerland.

The role of functional echocardiography in neonatal intensive care unit is rapidly evolving, and increasingly neonatologists are using it in making clinical decisions in sick infants. Functional echocardiography can provide a direct assessment of hemodynamics on bedside, and may be considered as an extension of the clinical examination to evaluate cardiovascular wellbeing in the critically-ill infant. The physiological information may be used in targeting specific intervention based upon the underlying pathophysiology. Read More

J Neonatal Perinatal Med 2018 ;11(3):265-271

Neonatal Research Institute at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns, San Diego, CA, USA.

Background: The optimal thresholds for identification of preterm infants at greatest risk for adverse sequelae related to patent ductus arteriosus have not been well delineated. Our aim was to determine hemodynamic parameters in the first 24 hours using continuous non-invasive vital and structural measurements to predict which infants required PDA treatment in our institution.

Methods: Retrospective secondary analysis of data from infants born 23 to 32 weeks gestational age with cardiac output and stroke volume via electrical cardiometry, cerebral tissue oximetry measurements, mean arterial blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and oxygen saturation and functional echocardiography results at 12 hours of life were recorded when available (93 percent of subjects). Read More

J Korean Med Sci 2018 May 27;33(22):e155. Epub 2018 Apr 27.

Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Background: This study evaluated echocardiographic changes in full-term healthy neonates during early transitional period from postnatal 0-72 hours at 12-hour intervals by echocardiography.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational, and longitudinal single-center cohort study. Morphometric, functional, systolic, diastolic, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) parameters (patent ductus arteriosus [PDA], aorta, superior vena cava [SVC], stroke volume [SV], cardiac output [CO], cardiac index [CI], early diastolic flow velocity [E], late diastolic flow velocity [A], early filling in TDI [E'], peak systolic annular velocity in TDI [S'], late velocity peak in TDI [A'], and myocardial performance index [MPI]) were evaluated in left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) with 56 newborns. Read More

J Pediatr 2018 09 24;200:50-57.e2. Epub 2018 May 24.

Division of Neonatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Critical Care, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; School of Medicine (Department of Paediatrics), The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

Objective: To characterize the natural history of cardiopulmonary physiology in the first 24 hours after birth.

Study Design: A prospective observational study of healthy newborns was conducted at a large tertiary perinatal center. Echocardiography was performed at <0. Read More

World J Pediatr 2018 06 23;14(3):254-258. Epub 2018 May 23.

Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.

Background: The indication and extent of cardiac screening before oral propranolol therapy (OPT) in patients with infantile hemangioma (IH) has been challenged. In this study, we evaluated pre-OPT cardiac diagnostics in a pediatric IH cohort in our department.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of infants ≤ 12 months old with IH undergoing OPT. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 May;97(21):e10569

Department of Radiology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, 32# second section of first ring road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Rationale: Interrupted aortic arch (IAA) is defined as a complete luminal and anatomical interruption between the ascending and descending aortas. The majority of patients with IAA rarely reach adulthood. In most cases, IAA is associated with an intracardiac malformation, such as ventricular septal defect, bicuspidaortic valve, and patent ductus arteriosus. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2018 May;71(5):347-350

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Iwaki Kyouritsu General Hospital, Iwaki, Japan.

The patient was a 66 year-old male. Computed tomography (CT) angiography showed a huge aneurysm(120 mm) in the aortic arch and chronic type B aortic dissection(45 mm) in the descending aorta. Echocardiography showed patent ductus arteriosus( PDA). Read More

Early Hum Dev 2018 06 10;121:37-43. Epub 2018 May 10.

Department of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan.

Objectives: The correct ductus arteriosus (DA) closure time is somewhere between the opening and closing time confirmed on echo, not on examination. We investigated DA closure time and factors affecting DA closure time using interval censoring analysis.

Methods: This was an observational, retrospective study including 2611 healthy neonates. Read More

Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 2018 08 27;23(4):239-244. Epub 2018 Apr 27.

Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Assessment and management of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants remains problematic. The more immature the infant, the more likely a PDA is to be present, due to lower spontaneous PDA closure rates. Clinicians now recognize that not all PDAs require treatment and that selection of the group of infants with a more hemodynamically relevant PDA, often manifesting as an increasing systemic-to-pulmonary shunt, is increasingly important. Read More

Arch Pediatr 2018 May 12;25(4):283-285. Epub 2018 Apr 12.

Department of radiology, hospital Laennec, 14, bis avenue Yves-Thépot, 29000 Quimper, France.

We report the case of an infant boy born at 39 weeks and 5 days who presented a cleft lip and palate. During the assessment to detect associated malformations, cardiac auscultation revealed a systolic heart murmur. Echocardiography and subsequent thoracic computed tomography angiography identified an aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus. Read More

Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2018 Sep 12;22(3):265-269. Epub 2018 Apr 12.

1 Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Interrupted aortic arch (IAA) is a rare form of critical neonatal heart disease in which there is lack of continuity between the ascending aorta and the descending thoracic aorta. In the absence of prenatal diagnosis, patients with IAA present in shock when the patent ductus arteriosus closes. Diagnosis can generally be made by echocardiography, and initiation of prostaglandin E1 infusion allows for adequate lower body perfusion prior to surgical repair. Read More

BMJ Paediatr Open 2017 11;1(1):e000143. Epub 2017 Aug 11.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Introduction: Haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) is a common cause of mortality and morbidity in preterm infants. Existing medical therapies with ibuprofen or indomethacin have multiple adverse effects. Hence, an alternative drug like paracetamol given through oral route with less side effects need to be tested in an appropriate study design with least risk of bias to arrive at a conclusion. Read More

Heart Asia 2018 29;10(1):e010998. Epub 2018 Mar 29.

Department of Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

A 38-year-old woman, 37+3 weeker was incidentally detected to have fetal cardiomegaly during 36 weeks ultrasound and referred for fetal echocardiogram. Antenatal history and anomaly scan were normal. Fetal echocardiogram showed heart rate of 153/min, sinus rhythm, situs solitus, levocardia, dilated right atrium and ventricle with venoatrial, atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial concordances. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Mar 28;2018. Epub 2018 Mar 28.

Department of Neonatology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.

Gastric pneumatosisis a very rare site of pneumatosis intestinalis (PI), and we report this finding in a preterm female infant with cyanotic congenital heart disease. The infant was stable initially on nasal intermittent mandatory ventilation; however, torrential pulmonary flow through a large patent ductus arteriosus prompted closure using oral ibuprofen. After an episode of haematochezia, she developed PI, affecting mainly the gastric wall and small intestine with portal venous gas. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018 03 26;12(3):e0006362. Epub 2018 Mar 26.

Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.

Background: Antenatal exposure to Zika virus (ZIKV) is related to severe neurological manifestations. A previous study in Brazil reported an increased incidence of non-severe congenital heart defects in infants with diagnosis of congenital Zika syndrome but without laboratory confirmation of ZIKV infection in the mother or infant. The objective of this study is to report echocardiographic (ECHO) findings in infants with laboratory confirmed antenatal exposure to ZIKV. Read More

Arch Dis Child 2018 Sep 22;103(9):859-863. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Background: Forecasting the prognosis of a child when diagnosed with Ebstein's anomaly is difficult. We, therefore, studied which factors at the time of diagnosis are associated with death during childhood.

Methods: All consecutive patients (0-18 years) diagnosed with Ebstein's anomaly in the Netherlands between 1980 and 2014 were included. Read More

Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 2018 08 7;23(4):292-297. Epub 2018 Mar 7.

Department of Neonatology, University Hospital of North Tees, Durham University, Stockton-on-Tees, UK.

Neonatologist-performed echocardiography (NPE) is an indispensable tool in the haemodynamic management of critically ill newborn infants. NPE is used to facilitate timely diagnosis of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants and to assess its haemodynamic significance. Before treatment is considered, it is obligatory to confirm structural cardiac normality. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2018 06 14;261:54-57. Epub 2018 Mar 14.

Antilles-Guyane M3C Pediatric Cardiology Center, University Hospital of Martinique, Fort-de-France, Martinique (FWI), France.

Aim: To describe our initial experience with the Occlutech Duct Occluder (ODO) for percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Methods: Retrospective review of patients undergoing transcatheter PDA closure with the ODO in 2 academic centers.

Results: From April 2013 to September 2017, 42 patients underwent PDA closure. Read More

Pediatr Res 2018 05 11;83(5):1016-1023. Epub 2018 Apr 11.

Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

BackgroundPostnatally, the immature left ventricle (LV) is subjected to high systemic afterload. Hypothesizing that LV pumping would change during transition-adaptation, we analyzed the LV in preterm infants (GA≤32+6), clinically stable or with a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hPDA) by applying a pump model.MethodsPumping was characterized by E (effective arterial elastance, reflecting afterload), E (end-systolic LV elastance, reflecting contractility), E/E coupling ratios, descriptive E:E relations, and E/E graphs. Read More

J Vet Intern Med 2018 May 12;32(3):956-961. Epub 2018 Mar 12.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Background: Different methods to perform reference calibration of an angiographic image exist; however, a prospective comparison of calibration methods has yet to be investigated in veterinary medicine.

Objective: To compare angiographic measurements using two commonly employed reference calibration methods, an esophageal pigtail marker catheter (EC) versus a radiopaque table ruler (TR).

Animals: Thirty-five client-owned dogs undergoing transcatheter intervention. Read More