Hybrid Stent Implantation Into Right Ventricular Outflow Tract in a Newborn With Tetralogy of Fallot

A case is presented of a newborn with tetralogy of Fallot and aortic coarctation. Progressive right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction required urgent surgical therapy. Coronary artery crossing the outflow tract made ventriculotomy impossible. Hybrid RVOT stent implantation was performed, providing effective pulmonary flow and enabling postponing of corrective jumping graft implantation.

Coronary steal phenomenon following right ventricle decompression and revascularization of atretic left coronary ostium: case report

Background

Coronary steal phenomenon and myocardial ischemia is a complication following decompression of a hypertensive right ventricle in patients with left coronary-cameral fistulae.

Case presentation

We present a 12-year-old girl with a complex heart defect successfully operated on using a hybrid surgical-interventional approach to decompress the ventricle, embolize the fistula and reconstruct the atretic left coronary ostium.

Conclusions

A novel hybrid strategy is the best solution for coronary-cameral fistulas reliant on high ventricular pressure at high risk for coronary steal phenomenon.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13019-021-01681-x.

Catheter-Guided Dissolution of a Giant Thrombus in the Left Ventricle in a Newborn

A newborn with pulmonary hypertension due to the premature fetal arterial duct occlusion was diagnosed with a giant left ventricle thrombus. Cardiopulmonary compromise required multidrug therapy with vasopressors infusions, high-frequency oscillation, and nitric oxide. Alteplase infusion through a guiding catheter into the left atrium dissoluted the clot without sequelae. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)

Recoarctation of the aorta after the Norwood procedure may be treated during the second stage of the surgical palliation

OBJECTIVES

Recoarctation of the aorta (re-CoA) after the Norwood procedure is traditionally treated during catheter-based aortoplasty (CB-A) performed as a separate procedure preceding stage II surgical palliation (S II SP). Our goal was to determine the efficacy of the protocol according to which re-CoA after the Norwood procedure in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome is treated during S II SP using hybrid catheter-based aortoplasty.

METHODS

We compared 2 groups of infants who developed re-CoA after the Norwood procedure and were treated at the same institution: In group I (n = 18), CB-A was traditionally performed before S II SP; in group II (n = 15), CB-A was performed during S II SP using a hybrid procedure (catheter access was through an aortic cannula routinely used for cardiopulmonary bypass). The right ventricular fractional area change was analysed.

RESULTS

The CB-A was performed effectively in both groups. S II SP was performed at a younger age in group II (5.4 ± 0.3 vs 6.0 ± 0.4 months; P = 0.003), with lower body weight (5.6 ± 0.5 vs 6.0 ± 0.4; P = 0.03, respectively). The duration of hospital stay did not differ between the groups (10.6 ± 6.2 vs 11.6 ± 6.4 days; P = 0.91). The right ventricular fractional area change measured before S II SP was higher in group I (39.7 ± 4.2% vs 36.8 ± 3.6%, respectively; P = 0.009), but the difference was not seen 1 month after S II SP (41.0 ± 5.6 vs 39.8 ± 4.1; P > 0.05). The total radiation dose was significantly lower in group II.

CONCLUSIONS

re-CoA after the Norwood procedure in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome can be treated effectively during S II SP using a hybrid procedure. The strategy allows for reduction of the total radiation dose and of the number of procedures and does not prolong the postoperative course, even in patients with decreased right ventricular systolic function.

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for the treatment of pulmonary valve stenosis in children - a single centre experience

BACKGROUND

Isolated pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS) is a common heart defect (6-9%); the preferred treatment is balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV).

AIM

To assess BPV results in children with isolated PVS treated between 1988 and 2004, with a mean follow-up of 6.1 +/- 3.4 years.

METHODS

The studied group consisted of 137 children (76 males and 61 females), aged 5.4 +/- 4.8 years. The diagnosis was based on physical examination, ECG, chest radiograph, echo, haemodynamic and angiocardiographic studies. The patients were divided into three groups, depending on the ratio of right ventricular systolic (RVSP) to systemic pressure (SP): I (n = 58) - RVSP < or = 75% of SP, II (n = 41) - RVSP = 76-100% of SP, III (n = 38) - RVSP > 100% of SP. In 7.3% of patients, dysplastic pulmonary valve (DPV) was seen. The balloon diameter to pulmonary valve annulus ratio was 1.29 +/- 0.1, and 1.42 +/- 0.1 in DPV children.

RESULTS

Immediately post-BPV, the patients showed significantly (p < 0.001) decreased pressure gradient across PVS (I: 49.3 +/- 11.1 - 12.5 +/- 7.6, II: 75.6 +/- 12.3 - 17.0 +/- 13.0, III: 117.3 +/- 28 - 17.9 +/- 15.5 mmHg), decreased RVSP (I: 65.3 +/- 10.3 - 28.6 +/- 7.6, II: 91.7 +/- 11.6 - 35.0 +/- 14, III: 133.0 +/- 27.3 - 38.4 +/- 19.2 mmHg) and end-diastolic RV pressure (I: 6.2 +/- 3.0 - 5.6 +/- 7.6, II: 6.3 +/- 3.0 - 5.5 +/- 2.9, III: 8.5 +/- 3.0 - 7.2 +/- 2.3 mmHg), non-significant (p > 0.05) increase in pulmonary artery pressure in group I (15.8 +/- 1.1 - 16.8 +/- 0.9 mmHg) and II (15.8 +/- 1.2 - 17.8 +/- 1.3 mmHg) and a significant (p < 0.003) rise in group III (14.5 +/- 1.3 - 19.4 +/- 2.1 mmHg). The procedure was ineffective only in one (2.4%) child in group II, who required surgery. Complications were seen in five (3.6%) patients, including one case of a balloon being lodged in the iliac vein (surgical repair). Follow-up echo showed similar to immediate post BPV values of pressure gradients across PVS. Pre-BPV subpulmonary stenosis was seen in 5.1%, post-BPV - 15.3%, and end of follow-up - only 3.6% of children, mainly from group III. Pre-BPV tricuspid insufficiency > IIo was noted in 8.8%, significantly more frequently in group III; while in late follow-up, it was seen in 7.2%, e.g. twice as often in group III vs. groups I and II. Pulmonary regurgitation > IIo increased from 2.2% before BPV to 25.5%, i.e. 17.2%, 24.4% and 39.5%, respectively in groups I-III. Restenosis was observed in eight (5.8%) patients (group I - 1, III - 7), of whom five had re-BPV, two were operated on and one was disqualified due to insignificant restenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These long-term follow-up data confirm efficacy and safety of BPV performed in children with isolated PVS.

[Syncope in children and adolescents]

The report presents a definition and causes of syncope in children. Syncope differs from other states with loss of consciousness by causes leading to decreased perfusion and resultant transient cerebral dysfunction with decreased muscle tone. The most common causes of syncope noted in almost 15% of children are neurocardiogenic. This group includes vasovagal, carotid sinus reflexive, situational (coughing, dysphagia, micturation and defecation disturbances) and post-exercise syncope. Another group is represented by orthostatic syncope that may be triggered by primary and secondary dis-autonomy, decreased blood volume (hemorrhage, diarrhea, Addison's disease), some medications and substances of abuse (alcohol). An important group, accounting for 2%-6% of all cases, are cardiogenic syncope, caused mainly by congenital/acquired obstructive cardiac sub- and valvar heart defects, various cardiomyopathies, some heart tumors (e.g. myxoma), exudative pericarditis, pulmonary embolus and hypertension, congenital and acquired coronary anomalies, various significant brady-tachyarrhythmias (sick sinus syndrome, supra- and ventricular tachycardias, congenital and acquired atrio-ventricular blocks). Subclavian steal syndrome as the cause of syncope is exceptional in children. Syncope does not include loss of consciousness due to neurological and metabolic (hypoglycemia) causes, hypoxia, hyperventilation with hypocapnia or CO intoxication. Differential diagnosis should also include pseudo-syncope (hysteria). Preliminary diagnostic management should include a detailed medical history, including family history, on the frequency and circumstances of syncope, sudden deaths, a physical exam with orthostatic assessment of peripheral blood pressure and standard ECG (heart rate, intraventricular and atrioventricular conduction defects, cardiac hypertrophy, arrhythmias, L-QT, changes in ST-T). Further specialist tests depend on preliminary findings.