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Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is the most common congenital heart disease in Mexico. The clinical manifestations of the PCA are from asymptomatic patients to the presence of heart failure. Its management should be individualized based on clinical, hemodynamic data and presence of pulmonary hypertension. Our objective was to provide current medical recommendations based on the best, available scientific evidence for the diagnosis, study and therapeutic decisions of the PCA. Established a standardized sequence to search for Practice Guidelines, based on the clinical questions about PCA diagnosis and treatment. Most of the recommendations were taken from selected guidelines and supplemented with the remaining material. The information is expressed in levels of evidence (E) and grade of recommendation (R) according to the characteristics of the study design and type of publications. Currently produces large amounts of medical information in a relatively short period of time which is necessary to have evidence-based CPG to facilitate and standardize the diagnostic decision-treatment to provide better care for children and adults with PCA.

We report our experience on 42 patients treated with atrial septal defect (ASD) occlusion using Amplatzer device. Thirty patients were females and 12 were males, mean ages 26.5-years-old +/- 12 years (interval from 7 to 69 years). Average weight was 57.1 +/- 13.8 kg (32.3-85.0 kg). Forty-two devices (ranging diameters from 13 mm to 40 mm) were deployed, 40 of which were placed successfully and attempts were unsuccessful in two cases (diameter devices 36 mm and 40 mm, respectively). We used the "balloon on the left or right upper pulmonary vein" in 5 patients, achieving good deployment. Echocardiography showed total occlusion in 37 patients (93.5%), trivial leak in 2 (4.7%), and light leak in 1 patient (2.3%). Follow up was at 1 to 12 months (mean 6.5). Total occlusion was observed at one month on both patients with trivial leak, and at 6 months on the patient with light leak. Failure to deploy the device appropriately on the two patients with unsuccessful result was due to unfavorable anatomy: very large defects in both cases (occluder size 36 mm and 40 mm), very thin postero-superior 6 mm rim on one of them and aortic rim absence on the other one. Stretched diameters were 34 mm and 38 mm on patients with 36 mm and 40 mm devices, respectively. Both of them were sent to surgery. We conclude that percutaneus closure of atrial septal defect with the Amplatzer device is a save and have good results.

Background: Congenital heart disease diagnostic has a high diagnostic precision with fetal echocardiography. This study has been reported in populations with high risk and with a sensibility of 86 to 99% and specificity of 91 to 100%., Objective: To know sensibility and specificity of fetal echocardiography in high-risk pregnancies, and to describe types and frequency of congenital heart disease in utero., Material and Method: 229 files of pregnant women with high-risk factors, more than 15 weeks of gestation, and at birth cardiovascular exam were analyzed. This analysis was made by means of simple frequencies, sensibility, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and truth index calculation., Results: We found 62 (27%) cases with fetal heart disease. Mean of maternal age was 27 +/- 5.5 years, and of gestational age 31 +/- 5 weeks. Risk factors that require study were: four-chamber abnormality in routine ultrasound, dysmorphy, fetal bradicardia, and poll and oligohydramnios. There were 55 (88.7%) high-risk heart diseases, and most frequent were Ebstein's anomaly, unique ventricle, hypoplastic left ventricle syndrome, and tumors. Sensibility was 98.41%, specificity was 97.59%, positive prognostic value was 97.59%, and negative prognostic value was 99.39%., Conclusions: Fetal echocardiography has a high diagnosis certainty in our hospital unit, thus, it has to be a normal prenatal exam in pregnant women with high-risk factors.

Endomyocardial biopsy (EB) is often used in the clinical evaluation of several cardiac disease. Hundred-seventy-six consecutive procedures were performed in 65 patients, 43 men and 22 women mean age was 29.86 +/- 11.53 (range 4 days to 66 years). Group A, 26 postcardiac transplantation patients in whom 137 EB were performed (39 heterotopic and 98 orthotopic), average sample 5.2 biopsy for each patient. Group B (n = 39) was studied for several cardiac diseases during cardiac diagnostic catheterism. The jugular venous approach was performed in 3 patients (1.7%), femoral in 173 patients. Major complications were found in 3 (1.7%) cases consisting in cerebrovascular accident (stroke) and coronary fistula into the right ventricle. Endomyocardial biopsy provides a low incidence of adverse reactions, mortality was 0%.

Unlabelled: Behçet's disease uncommon in the pediatric population. Intracardiac thrombus and bilateral pulmonary artery aneurysms are uncommon manifestations. We are reporting one case. A 14 years old patient was admitted, with high fever, dyspnea and hemoptysis since 4 months ago. Two years ago, fever, oral ulcers, aphthae (gingival, palate, tonsils), nose ulceration in and arthralgias-arthritis were noted. Chest radiograph showed round mass in the right lower lung field. The chest tomographic computed scan and pulmonary centellography were done to investigate malformations arterial. An Intracardiac thrombus of 27 x 12 mm was identified in the right ventricle by transthoracic echocardiography. Catheterization and pulmonary angiography showed an aneurism located in the right and left lobares arteries. Medical management with immunosuppressive and anticoagulation therapy resulted in complete remission of the clinical manifestations. Due to heamodynamic compromise surgical removal of the intracardiac thrombus was done., In Summary: The Behçet's disease is rare disease in children. Intracardiac thrombus and bilateral pulmonary artery aneurysms are rare complications. Medical treatment (immunosupressive and anticoagulation) is the first line therapy with resolution of the mucous, skin, cardiac and pulmonary manifestations.

We report our experience with the percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus with a Nit-Occlud device made of Nitinol (Nickel-Titanium alloy) in 13 patients; 10 women and 3 men, average age of 23.2 +/- 21.1 years. Average diameters were 3.8 +/- 0.8 mm and the morphologies, according to Krichenko's classification, were 10 type A, 2 type E, and 1 type C. The device was selected according to the aortic ampule and the narrowest part of the ductus. We implanted 8 occluders of 11 x 6 mm, 4 of 9 x 6 mm, and 1 of 7 x 6 mm. In three patients (25%) total occlusion was observed 15 minutes after implantation, in seven (54%) a trivial leak was observed, and in only two patients (16.6%) was the leak moderate to severe. In on patient, the occluder migrate to the pulmonary artery trunk and was successfully removed percutaneously; the patient was subjected then to surgical closure. Echocardiography follow-up 24 h later showed total occlusion in nine patients (69%). Six months after the procedure, two patient presented trivial leak (15%). One patient developed an endocarditic infection and died. We concluded that this occluder might be useful for this pathology, but further studies must be done.

Objective: We present two cases of Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) treated with percutaneous Amplatzer device., Method: The first case corresponds to 48 years old woman with Ebstein's disease with moderate to severe hemodynamic repercussion and three cerebrovascular accidents, the last one under coumarin treatment, she received antiarrhythmic medication and despite of it developed 1st degree AV block, supraventricular and ventricular ectopia, rigth branch block. The second case corresponds to a 22 years old man with antecedents of cerebrovascular accident at the age of 21 with sequelae of convulsive crisis. Both patients were percutaneously treated with Amplatzer devices. The first patient was treated with a foramen ovale device and second with septal occluder due to the diameter of the foramen. Both patients have remained asymptomatic during the follow-up period., Conclusions: The PFO devices are indicated for patients with a history of cerebrovascular accidents.

We performed transcatheter closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) using an Amplatzer device in three patients, 2 women and 1 male child, aged 12, 54, and 4 years, respectively, coursing with ostium secundum ASD. Two with left to right shunt and the third with bidirectional shunt. The transesophageal echocardiogram revealed ASD with diameters of 13, 15, and 10 mm, the diameter with expanded catheter balloon was of 30, 26, and 17 mm, respectively. The superior border of the atrial septum was bigger than 5 mm in all three patients, whereas the inferior border could not be found through echocardiography in the patients aged 12 and 4 years. Amplatzer devices of 30, 26, and 17 mm were implanted, the inferior border of the first two could be supported on the aortic wall and the superior border on the septum. We observed a 100% occlusion in these two cases through ecocolor-Doppler. In the third patient, an inferior border of 16 mm and a superior border of 8 mm were determined, achieving and immediate and fast installation of the device with 100% occlusion. All three patients were in stable conditions, asymptomatic and without shunt at their one-month follow-up as revealed by a trans-thoracic echocardiography. It is concluded that the Amplatzer device is technically easy to install and yields adequate results even in patients with ample ASD and without inferior border of the inter-atrial septum.

We present the results and follow up of ductus arteriosus closure with the Rashkind device. Sixty-six devices were implanted in 63 patients, 41 women and 22 men, with a mean age of 8.2 years. We determined the diameter of the duct, the presence or absence of immediate residual leak at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and every year of follow-up by ecocardiography. The hemodynamic determinations showed: type A morphology in 49, type C in 7 and type E in 7; with a mean diameter of 4.2 +/- 1.4 mm (range of 2.3 to 8.7 mm) and a Qp/Qs 2.2 +/- 1.5 (range 0.7 to 8.6). Forty-five 17 mm devices and 18 of 12 mm were used. The incidence of immediate residual leak was 65% (n-41); at 24 hrs. Post-procedure was 31.7% (n-20) and at one year 7.9% (n-5). Three patients with persistent leak had implantation of a second Rashkind device and one more patient an endovascular coil, the other patient is waiting for a second occlusor. Minor complications occurred in 15.8% (n-10). Results show an occlusion rate at 24 hrs of 68% and at one year of 92%; no patient presented migration of the device, hemolysis or obstruction of the pulmonary artery branches. We consider that occlusion of the ductus arteriosus with the Rashkind device is a safe and effective option for the treatment of this pathology.

We present the initial experience of closing of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with a new device; Gianturco-Grifka, at the General Hospital of The Medical Center "La Raza". The patient was a 4 year's old girl, in whom we detected continuous murmur in the second intercostal space, echocardiography showed a long conical patent ductus arteriosus 4.9 mm of diameter, systolic pressure of the pulmonary artery was 35 mm Hg with QP/QS 1.6:1. Hemodynamic study revealed a long conical ductus arteriosus 5 mm of diameter, type A1 from Krichenko classification. We proceeded to occlude the PDA with a Gianturco-Grifka device of 7 mm. Immediately after the PDA occlusion the shunt disappeared, there were no complications during the procedure. More cases are needed to determine long term benefits and limitations, of this procedure. However we conclude that technically it is easy to use. There is greater decrease of residual shunt that the one reported with other devices.

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter Coil and Grifka closure of the patent ductus arteriosus in comparison to our experience with the Rashkind umbrella device. Ninety seven patients (36 male and 61 females) underwent occlusion of the PDA. The following variables were compared: age, sex, ductus diameter, morphology, device, occlusion time, residual shunt, multiple device and complications. Data obtained were compared using the Student's test and Chi 2. Median patient age was 7.82 +/- 6.89, forty five patients underwent transcatheter Rashkind-17 closure, 19 patients with Rashkind-12, 18 patients with Coil and 13 patients with Grifka device, in two patients the closure could not be performed. There were differences between the morphology and device used (p = 0.008), between the ductus diameter and device used (p < 0.001). There was immediate closure in 26.7% in the Rashkind-17 group compared with, 57.9% for the Rashkind-12 group, 83.3% for Coil group and of 91.7% for Grifka group. The occlusion within 24 hrs of implantation was 60% with Rashkind-17, 78.9% with Rashkind-12, 94.4% with Coil and 100% with Grifka. Residual shunt persisted for more than a year in 7 patients with Rashkind-17 and 1 with Rashkind 12, (p = 0.001), in 4 patients two devices wore placed. The complications were, 15.5% for Rashkind-17, 26.3% for Rashkind-12, 5.2% for Coil and 30% for Grifka, (p = 0.004), one coil and one Grifka embolized. Transcatheter Coil and Grifka occlusion are more effective in achieving immediate closure than the Rashkind device. The indication to use each device is made according to the morphology and size of the ductus.

We present our early experience with the Gianturco-Grifka device for transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus. Grifka occlusion was attempted in 13 patients (7 female, 6 male), median patient age was 6.5 years. Echocardiographic evaluation showed a mean ductal diameter of 5.47 +/- 1.09 mm, and the morphology was type C in 7 patients, type A in 5 and type E in 1 patient. The angiographic ductal morphology was 6 type A, 5 type C and 2 type E. Mean PDA diameter was 5.69 +/- 1.15 mm. Three patients had pulmonary hypertension. They were given supplemental oxygen (100%), decreasing their pulmonary pressures. A total of 13 devices were implanted, 5 of 7 mm and 8 of 9 mm. Twelve patients had complete ductal occlusion documented by aortic angiography (92%), one patient presented residual shunt (8%). Color echocardiography at 24 hrs documented complete occlusion in 12 cases. One device embolized to the descending aorta 2 hours after closure, and it was successfully retrieved in the catheterization lab. We conclude that the Gianturco-Grifka device is an appropriate alternative for transcatheter closure of the PDA. This technique can be performed in ductus arteriosus type C, D and E, with diameter < 9 mm. More clinical trials are needed to establish the long-term results of this technique.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate and long term results of pulmonary valve ballon dilation, and to determine the prognostic factors of failure in 109 patients (60 female and 49 male), aged 7.04 +/- 8.4 years. Seventy two patients (66.1%) had isolated valvular stenosis and 33.9% presented associated lesions. Peak systolic pressure gradient across the pulmonary valve decreased from 89.53 +/- 37.23 to 20.8 +/- 19.41 mmHg (p < 0.0001) after valvuloplasty. Forty three patients developed reactive infundibular stenosis after valvuloplasty with a systolic gradient of 19.65 +/- 35.64 mmHg. At a mean period of 8 years of follow-up the pressure gradient was 20.75 +/- 14.32 (p < 0.001). Valvuloplasty was successful in 86.2% of the cases with a global mortality of 1.9%, minor complications in 15.2%, and a failure rate of 13.8%. At follow-up restenosis developed in 6.7%. The comparative analysis between the groups of success and failure yield as significant risk factors for failure an age younger than 3.5 years and a pulmonary valve with displastic (p < 0.05) or combined morphology (p < 0.05). This group had also more complications and higher systolic gradients and right ventricular pressures post-dilation (p < 0.05). Pulmonary valvuloplasty is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of pulmonary valve stenosis with a good immediate and long-term results, and is now considered the treatment of choice.