Mechanical Circulatory Assistance in Children: Clinical Outcome.

Background: In countries where organ donation is scarce, mortality in the pediatric heart transplant waiting list is high, and ventricular assist devices (VADs) are therapeutic alternatives in these situations. Berlin Heart EXCOR is currently 1 of the few VADs specific for children.

Methods: This retrospective study includes pediatric patients who underwent Berlin Heart EXCOR placement in a Brazilian hospital between 2012 and 2021.

Right Ventricular Systolic Function After the Cone Procedure for Ebstein's Anomaly: Comparison Between Echocardiography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance.

Although the Cone procedure has improved outcomes for patients with Ebstein´s anomaly (EA), neither RV systolic function recovery in long-term follow-up nor the best echocardiographic parameters to assess RV function are well established. Thus, we evaluated RV performance after the Cone procedure comparing two-dimensional (2DEcho) and three-dimensional (3DEcho) echocardiography to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). We assessed 27 EA patients after the Cone procedure (53% female, median age of 20 years at the procedure, median post-operative follow-up duration of 8 years).

Successful Recanalization of Thrombotic Occlusion in Pulmonary Artery Stent Using Sonothrombolysis.

• Stent thrombosis can occur in children after surgery for hypoplastic left heart. • Sonothrombolysis uses ultrasound and microbubbles to dissolve thrombi. • Pulmonary artery recanalization can be reached with sonothrombolysis.

Impaired Pulmonary Function is an Additional Potential Mechanism for the Reduction of Functional Capacity in Clinically Stable Fontan Patients.

Central factors negatively affect the functional capacity of Fontan patients (FP), but "non-cardiac" factors, such as pulmonary function, may contribute to their exercise intolerance. We studied the pulmonary function in asymptomatic FP and its correlations with their functional capacity. Pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary exercise tests were performed in a prospective study of 27 FP and 27 healthy controls (HC).

Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics associated with the evolution of the ductus arteriosus in the neonate with birth weight lower than 1,500g.

Objective: To identify clinical and echocardiographic parameters associated with the evolution of the ductus arteriosus in neonates with birth weight lower than 1,500g.

Methods: Retrospective study of 119 neonates in which clinical parameters (Prenatal: maternal age, risk of infection and chorioamnionitis, use of corticosteroid, mode of delivery and gestational age. Perinatal: weight, Apgar score, gender and birth weight/gestational age classification; Postnatal: use of surfactant, sepsis, fluid intake, heart murmur, heart rate, precordial movement and pulses, use of diuretics, oxygenation index, desaturation/apnea, ventilatory support, food intolerance, chest radiography, renal function, hemodynamic instability, and metabolic changes) and echocardiographic parameters (ductus arteriosus diameter, ductus arteriosus/weight ratio, left atrium/ aorta ratio, left ventricular diastolic diameter, and transductal flow direction, pattern and velocity) were analyzed.

Cone reconstruction in Ebstein's anomaly repair: early and long-term results.

Background: The main Ebstein anomaly (EA) repairs are based on the monocusp reconstruction of the tricuspid valve and are limited by the frequent need for replacement or the high recurrence of valve regurgitation.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effects of anatomical repair of Ebstein's anomaly using the cone reconstruction technique on patients' clinical evaluation, tricuspid valve function and right ventricular morphology.

Methods: We compared the clinical, echocardiographic and radiological data of 52 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 18.

Surgical treatment of pulmonary venous tunnel stenosis [corrected] after modified Senning procedure.

A 13-year-old male was admitted to undergoing correction of a pulmonary venous baffle stenosis (PVBS) after a modified Senning procedure was performed by the age of five months. Recurrent Pulmonary congestion and pneumonia episodes were followed by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization that confirmed PVBS. Previous catheter balloon angioplasty was attempted, and a surgical revision was done under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Relation between three-dimensional and two-dimensional echocardiography and biochemical analysis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction percutaneously treated.

Objective: The prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction depends on multiple features that can demonstrate myocardial injury degree (such as serum markers of cardiac necrosis), and also on adaptive mechanisms relative to the acute event. The aim of the study was to assess the relation between biochemical and echocardiographic findings from three-dimensional echocardiographic (3D Echo) analysis and echocardiographic two-dimensional (2D Echo) left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction, submitted to primary percutaneous treatment.

Methods: A prospective study with 2D Echo and 3D Echo of 23 patients (17 males, mean age of 57 ± 13 years) with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction, primarily percutaneously treated (stent).

Analysis of left ventricular regional dyssynchrony: comparison between real time 3D echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging.

Background: There is a paucity of information concerning left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony assessment by real time three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography (RT3DE) versus tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).

Aims: To compare RT3DE and TDI LV dyssynchrony assessment.

Methods: A prospective study of 92 individuals (56 men, age 47 +/- 10 years), 32 with dilated cardiomyopathy (CMP), and 60 healthy individuals.

Perinatal outcome of fetal atrioventricular block: one-hundred-sixteen cases from a single institution.

Background: Fetal atrioventricular (AV) block is an uncommon lesion with significant mortality. Because of the rarity of this disorder, the natural course, extensive evaluation of untreated fetuses, and late follow-up remain unclear.

Methods And Results: Of the 116 consecutive cases of fetal AV block studied from 1988 to 2006, only 1 was terminated, and 75% were live births.

The cone reconstruction of the tricuspid valve in Ebstein's anomaly. The operation: early and midterm results.

Objectives: We sought to describe a new technique for tricuspid valve repair in Ebstein's anomaly and to report early echocardiographic results, as well as early and midterm clinical outcomes.

Methods: From November 1993 through August 2005, 40 consecutive patients with Ebstein's anomaly (mean age, 16.8 +/- 12.

[The role of echocardiography as an isolated method for indicating surgery in patients with congenital heart disease].

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of echocardiography for indicating surgery without catheterization in patients with congenital heart disease through a prospective analysis and comparison of the echocardiographic diagnosis with the intraoperative findings, or invasive study, or both.

Methods: From February 2000 to January 2001, 493 patients with congenital heart diseases indicated for surgery were followed up. They underwent echocardiography with color-flow mapping for a therapeutic decision.