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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Necker Sick Children Hospital-M3C, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France.

Objectives: A double orifice of the left atrioventricular valve (LAVV) associated with atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD) can significantly complicate surgical repair. This study reports our experience of AVSD repair over 3 decades, with special attention to the zone of apposition (ZoA) of the main orifice, and presents a technique of hemivalve pericardial extension in specific situations.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study from 1987 to 2016 on 1067 patients with AVSD of whom 43 (4%) had a double orifice, plus 2 additional patients who required LAVV pericardial enlargement. Read More

Anesth Analg 2019 Mar 20. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

From the Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) strain is an echocardiographic modality that can characterize left ventricular (LV) function with greater accuracy than ejection fraction. While decreases in global strain have been used to predict outcomes after cardiac surgery, changes in regional 3D longitudinal, circumferential, radial, and area strain have not been well described. The primary aim of this study was to define differential patterns in regional LV dysfunction after cardiac surgery using 3D speckle tracking strain imaging. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK.

Objectives: We sought to define the early and late outcomes of unifocalization based on a classification of the native pulmonary artery (nPA) system and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) with a policy of combined recruitment and rehabilitation and to analyse the role of unifocalization by leaving the ventricular septal defect (VSD) open with a limiting right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit in borderline cases.

Methods: An analysis of 271 consecutive patients assessed for unifocalization at a single institution between 1988 and 2016 was performed. Patients were classified according to the pulmonary blood supply: group A, unifocalization based on nPA only; group B, based on nPA and MAPCAs; group C, MAPCAs only (absent nPAs). Read More

Front Physiol 2019 5;10:208. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Characterizing the response to myocardial infarction (MI) in the regenerative sheep fetus heart compared to the post-natal non-regenerative adolescent heart may reveal key morphological and molecular differences that equate to the response to MI in humans. We hypothesized that the immediate response to injury in (a) infarct compared with sham, and (b) infarct, border, and remote tissue, in the fetal sheep heart would be fundamentally different to the adolescent, allowing for repair after damage. We used a sheep model of MI induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2019 Mar 19:218492319839573. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dubai Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Posterior left ventricular free wall rupture is rare, difficult to diagnose, and potentially fatal secondary to tamponade. The optimal surgical technique is controversial, and the outcome depends on the severity of the rupture. A 51-year-old man with acute myocardial infarction complicated by posterior wall rupture presented in extremis with retrosternal pain. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Mar 15. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery; Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, Palo Alto, CA.

Background: To evaluate the short- and mid-term outcomes of surgical pulmonary artery reconstruction in patients with Williams syndrome.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients with Williams syndrome who underwent surgical pulmonary artery reconstruction at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital between January 2001 and May 2018.

Results: There were 25 WS patients (52% female) who underwent pulmonary artery reconstruction during the study period. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama, Japan.

Objective: Left ventricular free wall rupture is a catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction. Sutureless repair has been reported to be an effective surgical procedure for left ventricular free wall rupture. However, the outcomes of sutureless repair remain unclear. Read More

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Children's Hospital, Urushiyama 860, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 420-8660, Japan.

A boy with 22q11.2 deletion was diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PAVSD) and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs). At 8 months, unifocalization of left MAPCAs and BT shunt was performed at another hospital. Read More

Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Mar 14. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

The Heart Centre for Children, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Corner of Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, Westmead, New South Wales 2145, Australia.

Aims: Pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and right ventricular (RV) dilatation are common in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). Left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is an important risk factor in rTOF. The effect of PR/RV dilatation on LV performance and RV-LV interactions in rTOF are incompletely understood. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 27;10:300. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States.

The glycosciences aim to understand the impact of extracellular and intracellular carbohydrate structures on biological function. These glycans primarily fall into three major groups: lipid-linked carbohydrates that are referred to as glycosphingolipids or simply glycolipids; relatively short carbohydrate chains that are often O- or N-linked to proteins yielding common glycoproteins; and extended linear polymeric carbohydrate structures that are referred to as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Whereas, the impact of such carbohydrate structures has been extensively examined in cancer biology, their role in acute and chronic heart disease is less studied. Read More

Cardiology 2019 Mar 14;141(4):233-235. Epub 2019 Mar 14.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Mar 13. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Cardiovascular Clinic Bad Neustadt, Cardiovascular Clinic Bad Neustadt, Salzburger Leite 1, 97616, Bad Neustadt, Germany.

Anatomical aortic root restoration in a patient with a giant aneurysm of the right Sinus of Valsalva accompanied by severe AI and compression of the right-ventricular outflow is described and the entire case series (5) is reported. Read More

Lancet 2019 Mar;393(10175):1056-1070

Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.

In heart failure, extensive evaluation with modern non-invasive imaging modalities is needed to assess causes, pathophysiology, and haemodynamics, to determine prognosis and consider therapeutic options. This systematic evaluation includes a stepwise assessment of left ventricular size and function, the presence and severity of coronary artery disease, mitral regurgitation, pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular dilation and dysfunction, and tricuspid regurgitation. Based on this imaging-derived information, the need for specific therapies besides optimised medical therapy can be determined. Read More

G Ital Cardiol (Rome) 2019 Mar;20(3):35-39

Dipartimento di Scienze Cardiache, Toraciche e Vascolari, Policlinico Universitario di Padova.

Percutaneous mitral valve repair (MVR) using MitraClip system has been shown to be effective in patients with severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation deemed at high surgical risk. Atrial fibrillation is frequently observed in this setting, and the presence of a contraindication to oral anticoagulation is also very common in these patients. In this context, percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) may be a valid alternative in reducing the thromboembolic risk. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Mar 7. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Health Network, University of Toronto. Electronic address:

A 58-year-old woman suffered from medically refractory heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. She underwent tricuspid repair and left ventricular assist device implantation (LVAD) for inotropic dependent heart failure. Due to severe right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, she developed progressive bradycardia and ventricular asystole with electrocardiographic and echocardiographic standstill. Read More

Kardiologiia 2019 Mar 7;59(2):56-60. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)..

Aim: to assess clinical efficacy and expediency (appropriateness) of simultaneous single stage combined coronary stenting and closure of atrial septal defect.

Materials And Methods: Of total number of patients who underwent endovascular correction of atrial septal defect (ASD) (n=91), in 6 (6.6 %) the procedure of endovascular repair of secondary ASD was combined with performed at same session oronary stenting. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2019 Mar 6. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China. Electronic address:

The desmosome is a member of intercellular junctions that named 'anchoring junction', which contributes to the integrity and homeostasis of tissue structure and function of multicellular living organisms. As an important component of the desmosome and the most widely distributed isoform of desmocollins (DSCs), desmocollin2 (DSC2) has been demonstrated to be essential for the unity of epithelial cells, and served as a vital regulator in signaling processes such as epithelial morphogenesis, differentiation, wound healing, cell apoptosis, migration, and proliferation. Recent studies suggested that the aberrant expression or disruption of DSC2 might lead to some disorders, including heart disorders, certain cancers, and some other human diseases. Read More

Aorta (Stamford) 2018 Aug 8;6(4):95-97. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Descending thoracic aortic (DTA) aneurysms causing left main bronchus compression can be surgically repaired under left heart bypass (LHB). Safe LHB requires a competent aortic valve. Some patients present with concomitant DTA aneurysms and severe aortic regurgitation (AR), precluding LHB as an adjunct for aortic surgery. Read More

S D Med 2019 Jan;72(1):16-18

University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Ventricular pseudoaneurysm is an uncommonly encountered complication of myocardial infarction (MI) in the era of percutaneous coronary intervention. Its presentation can be very non-specific, and diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. Urgent surgical repair is generally warranted to prevent potentially catastrophic complications. Read More

Innovations (Phila) 2019 Feb 20;14(1):60-65. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

1 St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Objectives: Although aortic annulus repair has a long history, there are still no ideal devices to control an aortic annulus. We have developed a new method involving the use of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft with the support of a metallic ring holder during implantation from inside an aorta, with no dissection of the surrounding aortic annulus.

Methods: We used aortic annular rings of 18 to 24 mm made of Gore-Tex tubed grafts (W. Read More

Innovations (Phila) 2019 Feb 11;14(1):75-79. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

1 Department of Cardiac Surgery, Leviev Cardiothoracic and Vascular Center, Sheba Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

The mortality rate after the development of ventricular septal defect (VSD) remains high despite progress in pharmaceutical therapy, invasive cardiology, and surgical techniques. Although early surgical repair of postinfarction VSD is associated with a high mortality rate, in hemodynamic unstable patients surgery cannot always be postponed and surgical repair may be required urgently. We present two cases of patients diagnosed with postinfarction VSD who were in cardiogenic shock with multiorgan failure despite optimal treatment. Read More

Heart Vessels 2019 Mar 8. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.

The variable anatomy of Ebstein's anomaly leads to its various surgical procedures. The long-term outcomes of different operations were not well established. Thirty-five patients with Ebstein's anomaly who underwent operations from 2006 to 2018 in our department were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

JACC Basic Transl Sci 2019 Feb 25;4(1):83-94. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Research Unit of Biomedicine, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.

Myocardial infarction (MI)-induced cardiac fibrosis attenuates cardiac contractile function, and predisposes to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is elevated in affected organs in virtually every fibrotic disorder and in the diseased human myocardium. Mice were subjected to treatment with a CTGF monoclonal antibody (mAb) during infarct repair, post-MI left ventricular (LV) remodeling, or acute ischemia-reperfusion injury. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2019 Feb 22. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Electronic address:

Background: Few data exist on the contemporary profiles and outcomes of patients with significant aortic regurgitation (AR).

Objectives: The study sought to assess the benefits of aortic valve repair or replacement (AVR) and the prognostic value of left ventricular (LV) dimensions in significant AR.

Methods: From 2006 to 2017, consecutive patients with ≥moderate-severe chronic AR without prior heart surgery, myocardial infarction, or overt coronary artery disease were included. Read More

Diabetes Ther 2019 Mar 6. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Division of Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.

Introduction: We present a case wherein diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was treated with a large amount of sodium bicarbonate and potassium chloride, resulting in the development of osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS).

Case Presentation: Our patient was a 29-year-old male with a history of post-surgical repair for ventricular septal defect. Upon arrival, the patient's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was E2M4V3. Read More

Singapore Med J 2019 Feb;60(2):105-106

Centre for Cardiothoracic Surgery, Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore.

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2019 Mar;10(2):185-191

1 Departments of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Objective:: We report our experience with surgery for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) beyond first decade of life.

Methods:: Between January 1987 and July 2017, 98 patients ≥ten years underwent TAPVC repair. Their detailed case-records were analyzed. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Mar 5;20(5). Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam UMC, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients are at risk for cardiovascular disease. In particular, for aortic aneurysm formation, which ultimately can result in a life-threatening aortic dissection or rupture. Over the years, research into a sufficient pharmacological treatment option against aortopathy has expanded, mostly due to the development of rodent disease models for aneurysm formation and dissections. Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019 Feb;23(4):1698-1709

Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS Rome, Italy.

Objective: The patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rToF) are a growing population due to the improvement of surgical management in neonatal age. However, the significant pulmonary regurgitation, consequent to the repair, is the most frequent sequelae and leads to a progressive right ventricle dilation over time. The latter, in turn, is responsible for the possible dysfunction of right and/or left ventricle and an increased risk of dangerous ventricular arrhythmias. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Mar 2. Epub 2019 Mar 2.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA; Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Electronic address:

Background: Neochordoplasty is an important repair technique, though optimal anchoring position is unknown. While typically anchored at papillary muscles, new percutaneous devices anchor the chordae at or near the ventricular apex, which may have an effect on chordal forces and the long-term durability of the repair.

Methods: Porcine mitral valves (n=6) were mounted in a left heart simulator that generates physiological pressure and flow through the valves while chordal forces were measured using Fiber Bragg Grating strain gauge sensors. Read More

Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Feb 5;52(1):32-35. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea.

Surgical management of interrupted aortic arch (IAA) with systemic outflow tract obstruction is clearly a challenge. If both ventricles are adequate, the Yasui operation is a useful option. Otherwise, a staged approach through initial hybrid palliation and delayed biventricular repair, tailored to the degree of obstructed outflow, serves to avoid a high-risk neonatal procedure. Read More

Tex Heart Inst J 2019 02 1;46(1):14-20. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

The right ventricle provides systemic circulation in individuals with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) and in those with complete transposition who have had an atrial switch repair (DTGA). The aim of this study was to evaluate how the systemic right ventricle adapts to increased workload and oxygen demand during exercise. From November 2005 through December 2015, 3,358 adult patients with congenital heart disease were treated at our institution; we identified 48 (26 females, 22 males; median age, 25. Read More

Circ Res 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University.

Rationale: Targeting inflammation has been shown to provide clinical benefit in the field of cardiovascular diseases. Although manipulating regulatory T cell (Treg) function is an important goal of immunotherapy, the molecules that mediate their suppressive activity remain largely unknown. Interleukin 35 (IL-35), an immunosuppressive cytokine mainly produced by Tregs, is a novel member of the IL-12 family and is composed of an Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 3 (EBI3) subunit and a p35 subunit. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Mar 1. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, the Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address:

Background: The management of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries (PA/VSD/MAPCAs) has significantly changed over the past 20 years. Unifocalization and rehabilitation have been described as diametrically opposed strategies. An updated review focused on the management of this complex and rare condition is needed. Read More

ASN Neuro 2019 Jan-Dec;11:1759091419830186

3 Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA.

There is intense interest and effort toward regenerating the brain after severe injury. Stem cell transplantation after insult to the central nervous system has been regarded as the most promising approach for repair; however, engrafting cells alone might not be sufficient for effective regeneration. In this study, we have compared neural progenitors (NPs) from the fetal ventricular zone (VZ), the postnatal subventricular zone, and an immortalized radial glia (RG) cell line engineered to conditionally secrete the trophic factor insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Read More

J Card Surg 2019 Feb 27. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Diseases, Anatomy Unit, Bouake Teaching Hospital, Bouake, Cote d'Ivoire.

Background: Surgical skills acquisition in cardiac surgery requires consistent and hard practice. Furthermore, training using cadaver is advocated as a means of transferring learned skills to the operating room and recreate surgical situations for trainees to practice and hone their skills. We expose our experience in training for cardiac surgical procedures using human cadavers. Read More

J Cell Physiol 2019 Feb 27. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Until recently, it was thought that myocardium was not able to repair itself, but studies have now shown that resident cardiac stem cells have regenerative capacity, and stem cell therapy may be a novel approach for cardiac muscle repair and regeneration. Stem cell-derived paracrine factors have been shown to regulate ventricular remodeling, inflammation, apoptosis, cardiomyocytes regeneration, and neovascularization in regions of infarcted cardiac tissue. Read More

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Jan-Feb;34(1):1-7

Serviço de Cardiologia e Cirurgia Cardiovascular Pediátrica de São José do Rio Preto - Hospital da Criança e Maternidade de São José do Rio Preto (FUNFARME) - Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.

Objective: To analyze data related to surgical treatment in patients with congenital heart defects (CHD) and Down syndrome (DS) based on information from International Quality Improvement Collaborative Database for Congenital Heart Disease (IQIC).

Methods: Between July 1, 2010 and December 31, 2017, 139 patients with CHD and DS underwent surgery at Hospital de Base and Hospital da Criança e Maternidade de São José do Rio Preto (FUNFARME)/Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto - SP (FAMERP). A quantitative, observational and cross-sectional study was performed in which the pre, intra and postoperative data were analyzed in an IQIC database. Read More

PLoS One 2019 26;14(2):e0212889. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Department of Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by remodeling and narrowing of the pulmonary arteries, which lead to elevation of right ventricular pressure, heart failure, and death. Proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) is thought to be central to the pathogenesis of PAH, although the underlying mechanisms are still being explored. The protein p53 is involved in cell cycle coordination, DNA repair, apoptosis, and cellular senescence, but its role in pulmonary hypertension (PH) is not fully known. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, Calif. Electronic address:

Objective: To quantify the effects of annuloplasty rings designed to treat ischemic/functional mitral regurgitation on left ventricular septal-lateral (S-L) and commissure-commissure (C-C) dimensions.

Methods: Radiopaque markers were placed as opposing pairs on the S-L and C-C aspects of the mitral annulus and the basal, equatorial, and apical level of the left ventricle (LV) in 30 sheep. Ten true-sized Carpentier-Edwards Physio (PHY), Edwards IMR ETlogix (ETL), and GeoForm (GEO; all from Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, Calif) annuloplasty rings were inserted in a releasable fashion. Read More

Life Sci 2019 Mar 22;221:319-326. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Aim: Myocardial infarction (MI), an important cause of morbidity and mortality, can be followed by left ventricular dysfunction and cardiomyocyte loss. Cardiac repair mechanisms may subsequently improve left ventricular function. Exercise training has been suggested to have cardioprotective effects against MI damage, but detailed knowledge is lacking on the effects of different types and intensities of exercise training on molecular targets of cardiomyocyte regeneration. Read More

Exp Cell Res 2019 Feb 22. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Cardiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. Electronic address:

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a diffuse pulmonary microvascular remodeling disease accompanied by malignant proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), which causes persistent pulmonary artery pressure elevation, right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and death. However, current therapies targeting pulmonary vascular remodeling and RVH remain poorly effective in reversing PAH. Overactivation of the protein tyrosine kinase Src plays an important role in tumor cell growth, proliferation and invasion; we thus hypothesized that inhibitors targeting Src activation could reverse experimental PAH. Read More

Heart Surg Forum 2019 02 18;22(1):E038-E044. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Department of Anesthesia, Capital Institute of Pediatrics Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Beijing, China.

Background Intravenous sufentanil-midazolam and inhalational sevoflurane are widely used for anesthetic induction in children undergoing cardiac surgery. However, knowledge about their effects on hemodynamics and cardiac efficiency remains limited due largely to the lack of direct monitoring method. We used minimally invasive technique pressure recording analytical method (PRAM) to directly monitor hemodynamics and cardiac efficiency and compared the effects of the two anesthetic regimens in children undergoing ventricular septal defect repair. Read More

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2019 01;10(1):18-19

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

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2019 01;10(1):125-128

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

A life of professional caring, research, teaching, and inspiration-this is the legacy of Dr Stella Zacharioudaki Van Praagh, MD. Among her many outstanding contributions, only a few are recorded here: (1) a new surgical operation for closing apical muscular ventricular septal defects, (2) a newly discovered form of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage and its surgical repair, (3) a new understanding of sinus venosus defects and their surgical repair, (4) the realization that the concept of atrial-level isomerism (mirror-imagery) in the heterotaxy syndromes of asplenia, polysplenia, and single right-sided spleen is erroneous, (5) the understanding that it is possible to diagnose the atrial situs in the majority of cases of the heterotaxy syndromes, and (6) the fact that the concepts of evolution, natural selection, and survival of the fittest were described by Empedocles, an ancient Greek philosopher, in the fifth century bc, and that these concepts were not discovered and published for the first time by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace in the 19th century (1858 ad). Dr Stella was conversant with ancient Greek and read it frequently in an ancient Greek study group that she headed. Read More

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2019 01;10(1):11-17

1 Department of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.

Objective: Surgical outcomes of biventricular repair for hearts with hypoplastic left ventricle with congenital mitral valve stenosis are described. Serial changes of left ventricular geometry and clinical features after biventricular repair were reviewed.

Methods: Eight patients with hypoplastic left ventricle and congenital mitral valve stenosis who underwent first surgical intervention for biventricular circulation in neonatal or infantile period between 2001 and 2014 comprise the study population. Read More

Circ J 2019 Feb 23. Epub 2019 Feb 23.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center.

Background: There are no reports on the effect of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot (ToF). Methods and Results: A total of 50 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization after surgical repair of ToF were retrospectively assessed. RDW was positively correlated with the ratio of right ventricular pressure to left ventricular pressure (RVP/LVP; P<0. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2019 Feb 24:218492319833268. Epub 2019 Feb 24.

3 Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Okinawa Prefectural Nanbu Medical Center & Children's Medical Center, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

A neonate was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect and aortic coarctation. Bilateral pulmonary artery banding was performed at 9 days of age (weight 1472 g). Because of ductal shock, emergency extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated after surgery. Read More

Arch Cardiovasc Dis 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Pôle des cardiopathies congénitales de l'enfant et de l'adulte, centre de référence malformations cardiaques congénitales complexes (M3C), hôpital Marie-Lannelongue, université Paris-Sud, université Paris-Saclay, 133, avenue de la Résistance, 92350 Le Plessis-Robinson, France.

Background: Transcatheter pulmonary valvuloplasty in neonates with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) or duct-dependent pulmonary valve stenosis (DD-PVS) has become a reasonable alternative to surgical right ventricle decompression.

Aim: To investigate mid-term outcomes following pulmonary valvuloplasty.

Methods: Sixty-five neonates with PA-IVS (n=29) or DD-PVS (n=36) (median age 4 days; mean weight 3. Read More