Search

Surgical valve replacement is the most effective treatment for carcinoid heart disease; however, reoperation for prosthetic valve failure is burdened by high risk. We report the first described percutaneous transcatheter pulmonary and tricuspid valve-in-valve replacement for bioprosthesis degeneration for any reason in a patient with carcinoid heart disease. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.), Surgical valve replacement is the most effective treatment for carcinoid heart disease; however, reoperation for prosthetic valve failure is burdened…

Summary Objective Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) often experience growth failure prior to surgery, which is associated with increased paediatric-intensive-care unit length of stay (PICU-LOS) and post-operative complications. This study assessed the impact of a pre-operative, consensus-based nutritional pathway (including support from a multi-disciplinary team) on growth and clinical outcome. Design Single-centre prospective pilot study. Setting Tertiary paediatric cardiology surgical centre. Patients Infants with CHD. Intervention Infants with CHD were followed for up to 4-months-of-age before cardiac surgery and then to 12-months-of-age following the implementation of the consensus-based nutritional-pathway (Intervention group: November 2017–August 2018), with outcomes compared to a historic control group. The nutrition pathway involved a dietitian contacting parents of infants with the highest risk of growth failure weekly; reviewing weight gain and providing feeding support. Main outcome measure Growth (weight-for-age, WAZ, and height-for-age-z-score, HAZ) at 4 and 12 months-of-age. Results 44 infants in the intervention group were compared to 38 in the control group. Median (inter quartile range) change in WAZ from birth to 4 months-of-age (−0.9 (−1.5, 0.7)) and from birth to 12 months-of-age (−0.09 (−1.3, 1.1)) in the intervention group compared to the control group (−1.5 (−2.0, −0.4) (p = 0.04)) at 4 months-of age and at 12 months-of-age (−0.4 (1.9, 0.2) (p = 0.03)). HAZ at 4 months-of-age was −0.7 (−1.4, −0.1) vs. −1.0 (−1.9, −0.3) (p = 0.6) in the intervention and control groups respectively, and at 12 months-of-age HAZ was −0.7 (−1.9, −0.07) in the intervention group vs.-1.6 (−2.6, −0.4) in the control group (p = 0.04). Duration of PICU-LOS was 8.2 ± 11.6 days intervention vs. 18.3 ± 24.0 days control (p = 0.006). Conclusion Overall weight was well maintained and growth improved in infants who followed the pre-operative nutritional-pathway. The duration of PICU-LOS was significantly lower in the intervention group, which may be due to improved nutritional status, although this requires further investigation.

Introduction:Infants with CHD often experience growth failure. Ensuring optimal growth before surgery is associated with improved outcomes and has emerged as a significant cause of parental stress. Parents have reported a perceived lack of accessible feeding information for infants with CHD. To address this gap, the aim of this study was to develop feeding information to better support parents.Materials and methods:A search for existing material on six electronic databases and an internet search for unpublished (grey) literature on feeding information for infants with CHD were carried out. Following the development of feeding information, semi-structured interview(s) with parents/health-care professionals were completed, focusing on whether the information was easy to understand, relevant, provided sufficient information around feeding/feeding difficulties, and whether there were any information gaps. Iterative changes were made to the information following each interview. The process was completed until thematic saturation was achieved.Results:A total of 23 unique articles were identified of which 5 studies were included. From the grey literature, four web pages were reviewed. A total of 22 parents and 25 health-care professionals were interviewed. All parents/health-care professionals felt that the feeding information developed provided sufficient information; however, many wanted information on how to introduce complementary food, particularly if weaning was delayed.Conclusions:This study describes the development of feeding information for infants with CHD. From parent interviews, gaps identified focused on the introduction of complementary foods and uncertainty regarding the feeding journey beyond surgery.

A 15-year-old boy with trisomy 21, moderate left atrioventricular (AV) valve regurgitation and a previously repaired AV septal defect developed Aerococcus urinae infective endocarditis. The infected left AV valve and surrounding tissue were surgically removed and replaced with a prosthetic mitral valve; this was followed by 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics. Towards the end of his antibiotic course, his C reactive protein level began to rise, and he subsequently developed worsening hip pain and severe anaemia …

IntroductionDespite improvements in the medical and surgical management of infants with CHD, growth failure before surgery in many infants continues to be a significant concern. A nutritional pathway was developed, the aim of which was to provide a structured approach to nutritional care for infants with CHD awaiting surgery.Materials and methodsThe modified Delphi process was development of a nutritional pathway; initial stakeholder meeting to finalise draft guidelines and develop questions; round 1 anonymous online survey; round 2 online survey; regional cardiac conference and pathway revision; and final expert meeting and pathway finalisation.ResultsPaediatric Dietitians from all 11 of the paediatric cardiology surgical centres in the United Kingdom contributed to the guideline development. In all, 33% of participants had 9 or more years of experience working with infants with CHD. By the end of rounds 1 and 2, 76 and 96% of participants, respectively, were in agreement with the statements. Three statements where consensus was not achieved by the end of round 2 were discussed and agreed at the final expert group meeting.ConclusionsNutrition guidelines were developed for infants with CHD awaiting surgery, using a modified Delphi process, incorporating the best available evidence and expert opinion with regard to nutritional support in this group.

Objectives This study aimed to report our national experience with transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion in infants weighing

Introduction: The Helex Septal Occluder (HSO) is a relatively new device used in the percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASDs). The immediate and short-term results of its deployment have been reported, but the medium-term results have not been described. The objective was to describe the midterm efficacy and safety of percutaneous closure of ASD with the HSO. Methods: The HSO was used in 33 children to close secundum ASDs between July 1999 and November 2000. Detailed data were collected at implantation and 31 children have been followed clinically and investigated with electrocardiogram (ECG) (n = 30), echocardiogram, and fluoroscopy (n = 30) at a mean of 63 (range 55‐74) months after implantation. Results: The ages and body weights at implantation ranged from 13 to 220 months and 7.6 to 57.6 kg. The ASD diameter ranged from 7 to 17 mm. All sizes of HSO were deployed. The range of device to defect ratio was 1.4 to 3.3. Of the 21 residual shunts noted early after implantation, only four persisted, all small, at latest follow-up. There were no new shunts. There were no new ECG abnormalities. There was a pronounced change in the configuration of one HSO without sequelae. In two patients in whom the locking loop missed the right atrial eyelet at deployment, there were no sequelae or residual shunts. There were no cases of frame fracture or explantation. There has been no death or long-term morbidity. Conclusions: At midterm follow-up the HSO is durable and effective, with a low incidence of adverse sequelae even in the small subgroup with imperfect configuration. (J Interven Cardiol 2008;21:363‐368)

Hypertension is a common and well recognised clinical entity, which in a majority of cases (95%) is essential in nature.[1][1] In a relatively small proportion of patients, secondary causes of hypertension are found. High blood pressure (BP) may be the first presentation of an undiagnosed congenital

Thermal stressing of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)- rich culinary oils according to routine frying or cooking practices generates high levels of cytotoxic aldehydic products (predominantly trans-2-alkenals, trans,trans-alka-2,4-dienals, cis,trans-alka-2, 4-dienals, and n-alkanals), species arising from the fragmentation of conjugated hydroperoxydiene precursors. In this investigation we demonstrate that typical trans-2-alkenal compounds known to be produced from the thermally induced autoxidation of PUFAs are readily absorbed from the gut into the systemic circulation in vivo, metabolized (primarily via the addition of glutathione across their electrophilic carbon-carbon double bonds), and excreted in the urine as C-3 mercapturate conjugates in rats. Since such aldehydic products are damaging to human health, the results obtained from our investigations indicate that the dietary ingestion of thermally, autoxidatively stressed PUFA-rich culinary oils promotes the induction, development, and progression of cardiovascular diseases.

We narrate the case of a term baby who presented at 30 h of age in congestive cardiac failure due to vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation. A successful interventional radiology embolisation of the feeding vessels to the aneurysm was performed on day 5. Twenty hours following the procedure, the baby developed significant intraventricular haemorrhage with extension into the brain parenchyma; care was reoriented on day 7 of life after discussion with the parents. Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation is a rare congenital vascular malformation. It usually manifests in the newborn period with high-output cardiac failure. The death rate is higher in those who present early in the neonatal period. The management of this condition requires a multidisciplinary approach.