Valley index as a predictor of prenatal diagnosis of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

INTRODUCTION: Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) has a low prenatal diagnostic rate. Therefore, we investigated whether Doppler waveforms with a low pulsatility in the pulmonary veins can indicate fetal TAPVC. METHODS: This retrospective study included 16 fetuses with TAPVC, including 10 with complex congenital heart disease and 104 healthy fetuses that underwent fetal echocardiography. Pulmonary venous S and D wave flow velocities and the valley (representing the lowest velocity between the S and D waves) were measured. Valley indices I and II were then calculated as (velocity of valley/ greater of the S and D wave velocities) and (velocity of valley/lesser of the S and D wave velocities), respectively. RESULTS: Supra/infracardiac TAPVC cases exhibited significantly greater valley indices than that of the healthy group. After adjusting for gestational age at fetal echocardiography, valley index I (odds ratio [OR] 7.26, p < 0.01) and II (OR 9.23, p < 0.01) were significant predictors of supra/infracardiac TAPVC. Furthermore, valley indices I and II exhibited a high area under the curve for detecting supra/infracardiac TAPVC, regardless of the presence of pulmonary venous obstruction. CONCLUSION: The valley index may be a useful tool for the detection of fetal TAPVC.

Successful perioperative management of pheochromocytoma in a patient with Fontan circulation.

Pheochromocytoma (PCC) can adversely affect Fontan circulation. However, there are few reports on its perioperative management before and after PCC resection in Fontan patients. A 24-year-old female patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary atresia who had undergone Fontan palliation developed heart failure caused by PCC. The patient was pre-conditioned for PCC resection with heart failure treatment, alpha-blocker titration, and careful infusion, and had a good intraoperative and postoperative course with no complications. Postoperative catheter data showed improvements in systemic vascular resistance, cardiac output, and central venous pressure compared with preoperative data. There is no established preconditioning method for PCC resection in patients with Fontan circulation. Careful perioperative management based on an understanding of the features of the Fontan circulation can lead to better outcomes. Learning objective: Pheochromocytoma (PCC) can occur in patients with Fontan circulation. Preoperative management and the PCC itself can adversely affect Fontan circulation, highlighting the importance of suspecting PCCs in Fontan patients based on symptoms such as heart failure, worsening arrhythmias, and headache, and emphasizing careful perioperative management.

Status of adult outpatients with congenital heart disease in Japan: The Japanese Network of Cardiovascular Departments for Adult Congenital Heart Disease Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Japanese Network of Cardiovascular Departments for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (JNCVD-ACHD) was founded in 2011 for the lifelong care of adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD patients). This network maintains the first Japanese ACHD registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 2011 to 2019, the JNCVD-ACHD registered 54 institutions providing specialized care for ACHD patients in 32 of the 47 prefectures in Japan. The registry collected data on the disease profile for 24,048 patients from 50 institutions and the patient characteristics for 9743 patients from 24 institutions. The most common ACHDs were atrial septal defect (20.5 %), ventricular septal defect (20.5 %), tetralogy of Fallot (12.9 %), and univentricular heart (UVH)/single ventricle (SV; 6.6 %). ACHD patients without biventricular repair accounted for 37.0 % of the population. Also examined were the serious anatomical and/or pathophysiological disorders such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (3.0 %) including Eisenmenger syndrome (1.2 %), systemic right ventricle under biventricular circulation (sRV-2VC; 2.8 %), and Fontan physiology (6.0 %). The sRV-2VC cases comprised congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries without anatomical repair (61.9 %) and transposition of the great arteries with atrial switching surgery (38.1 %). The primary etiology (86.4 %) for Fontan physiology was UVH/SV. In addition, developmental/chromosomal/genetic disorders were heterotaxy syndromes (asplenia, 0.9 %; polysplenia, 0.7 %), trisomy 21 (4.0 %), 22q11.2 deletion (0.9 %), Turner syndrome (0.2 %), and Marfan syndrome (1.1 %). CONCLUSIONS: Although the specific management of ACHD has systematically progressed in Japan, this approach is still evolving. For ideal ACHD care, the prospective goals for the JNCVD-ACHD are to create local networks and provide a resource for multicenter clinical trials to support evidence-based practice.

Agenesis of the venous duct with abnormal return of the umbilical vein into the superior vena cava: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Agenesis of the venous duct is rare, with an incidence rate of .04%-.6%. Abnormal drainage of the umbilical vein (UV) to superior vena cava (SVC) is seen in .5% of agenesis of the venous duct cases. We present a case of agenesis of the venous duct with drainage of the UV into the SVC accompanied by tetralogy of Fallot. CASE PRESENTATION: The fetus was diagnosed with agenesis of the venous duct and tetralogy of Fallot at 29 gestational weeks. The UV directly returned to the SVC. Cardiomegaly and pericardial effusion were observed but did not deteriorate. The female infant was born at 40 gestational weeks. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed that the UV was occluded at its proximal aspect. No abnormality of the portal system was noted. The infant underwent intracardiac repair and was doing well at 16 months of age. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Although the extrahepatic drainage type of agenesis of the venous duct is occasionally associated with heart failure and hydrops, severe hydrops was absent in this case. It was speculated that vascular resistance in the long pathway to the SVC restricted direct inflow from the UV. Portosystemic shunts and agenesis of the portal system are reported complications of agenesis of the venous duct. Prenatal agenesis of the venous duct diagnosis may be crucial for early postnatal diagnosis of these conditions.

Fetal case of rare association of hypoplastic left heart syndrome and absent atrial septum accompanied by mixed form of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

Abnormal pulmonary venous flow patterns on fetal echocardiography and a nutmeg lung pattern on fetal magnetic resonance imaging are seen in patients with pulmonary venous stenosis. The association between these findings and the degree of pulmonary venous stenosis remains unknown. We report an extremely rare case of a fetus diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome complicated by an absent atrial septum and supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with left pulmonary venous congestion. This case suggests that compared to non-pulsatile continuous pulmonary venous flow, the nutmeg lung pattern can only be observed with severe pulmonary congestion and advanced pulmonary lymphangiectasia.

Absent pulmonary valve with tricuspid atresia/stenosis: literature review with new three long-term cases.

Absent pulmonary valve (APV) syndrome with tricuspid atresia or tricuspid stenosis (TA/TS) is an extremely rare malformation recently reported as a variant of APV with intact ventricular septum (VS). The condition, however, has univentricular physiology and unique structural and clinical features. The purpose of this study was to update the current knowledge about this condition by describing long-term outcomes of three new cases and reviewing the available literatures. A systematic literature search was performed to collect clinical and anatomical data of APV with TA/TS. Institutional medical records were retrospectively reviewed to identify APV with TA/TS patients. In a total of 62 (59 reported and 3 new) cases, patent ductus arteriosus was present in 98% of APV patients with TA/TS. A large ventricular septal defect, dilatation of the pulmonary arteries, which is typically found in APV with tetralogy of Fallot, and respiratory distress at birth were rarely reported. Most of the recent cases were successfully managed by the Glenn or Fontan procedure. Coronary artery anomaly and ventricular arrhythmia were more frequently reported as the cause of death or severe neurological sequelae (9/16 and 3/8, respectively). Additional surgical intervention was required in the mid/long-term period in three cases due to left-ventricular outflow obstruction and in two due to aortic dilatation. The Fontan and Glenn procedures improved the survival in the last two decades. In addition to coronary artery anomaly and ventricular arrhythmia, left-ventricular outflow tract obstruction and aortic dilatation should be carefully monitored.

A double-barrelled aorta with high aortic Arch.

A double-barrelled aorta was detected in a female newborn with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Double-barrelled aorta had been previously described as persistence of the fifth pharyngeal arch, but its existence continues to be debated. Recent embryologic studies suggest that double-barrelled aorta is more likely explained by other developing processes in the majority of cases. In our case, catheter angiography confirmed the presence of the high aortic arch and double-barrelled aorta. The upper lumen was located above the level of the clavicles. These findings suggested that the persistence of the segment of dorsal aorta between the third and fourth embryonic arches and the double-barrelled aorta was more likely a consequence of persistence of the third and fourth pharyngeal arches. Detailed imaging and embryologic considerations played an important role in accurate assessment of the origin of the double-barrelled aorta. .

Platelet count and abdominal dynamic CT are useful in predicting and screening for gastroesophageal varices after Fontan surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Patients who undergo Fontan surgery for complex cardiac anomalies are prone to developing liver and gastrointestinal complications. In particular, gastroesophageal varices (GEVs) can occur, but their prevalence is unknown. We aimed to elucidate the occurrence of GEVs and the predicting parameters of GEVs in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (median age, 14.8 years; median time since surgery, 12.9 years) who had undergone the Fontan surgery and were examined by abdominal dynamic computed tomography (CT) for the routine follow-up were included in the study. Radiological findings including GEVs and extraintestinal complications were retrospectively evaluated by experienced radiologists in a blinded manner. Relationships between blood-biochemical and demographic parameters and the presence of GEVs were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Dynamic CT revealed gastric varices (n = 3, 11.1%), esophageal varices (n = 1, 3.7%), and gastrorenal shunts (n = 5, 18.5%). All patients with gastric varices had gastrorenal shunts. All gastric varices were endoscopically confirmed as being isolated and enlarged, with indications for preventive interventional therapy. A platelet count lower than 119 × 109 /L was identified as a predictor of GEV (area under the receiver operating curve, 0.946; sensitivity, 100%; and specificity, 87%). CONCLUSIONS: GEVs are important complications that should not be ignored in patients who have undergone a Fontan procedure. Platelet counts lower than 119 × 109 /L may help to prompt patient screening by using abdominal dynamic CT to identify GEVs and their draining collateral veins in these patients.

Prenatally diagnosed left atrial appendage aneurysm with various postnatal imaging investigations: A case report.

A congenital left atrial appendage aneurysm (LAAA) is a rare cardiac malformation, that is, usually diagnosed in adulthood. It is rarely diagnosed prenatally. In most cases, surgical resection is recommended soon after the diagnosis has been made due to the risk of arrhythmia and thrombotic events. The present report describes a case of LAAA that was prenatally diagnosed and was asymptomatic postnatally. Imaging revealed the relation of the cardiac and airway structures around the LAAA in detail. The patient underwent surgical resection of the LAAA successfully at 7 months of age and is currently healthy at 5 years of age.

Novel electrocardiographic criteria for short QT syndrome in children and adolescents.

AIMS: Although shortening of the corrected QT interval (QTc) is a key finding in the diagnosis of short QT syndrome (SQTS), there may be overlap of the QTc between SQTS patients and normal subjects in childhood and adolescence. We aimed to investigate electrocardiographic findings for differentiation of SQTS patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: The SQTS group comprised 34 SQTS patients <20 years old, including 9 from our institutions and 25 from previous reports. The control group comprised 61 apparently healthy subjects with an QTc of <360 ms who were selected from 13 314 participants in a school-based screening programme. We compared electrocardiographic findings, including QT and Jpoint-Tpeak intervals (QT and J-Tpeak, respectively), those corrected by using the Bazett's and Fridericia's formulae (cB and cF, respectively) and early repolarization (ER) between the groups. QT, QTc by using Bazett's formula (QTcB), QTc by using Fridericia's formula (QTcF), J-Tpeak, J-Tpeak cB, and J-Tpeak cF were significantly shorter in the SQTS group than in the control group. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) was largest for QTcB (0.888) among QT, QTcB, and QTcF, with a cut-off value of 316 ms (sensitivity: 79.4% and specificity: 96.7%). The AUC was largest for J-Tpeak cB (0.848) among J-Tpeak, J-Tpeak cB, and J-Tpeak cF, with a cut-off value of 181 ms (sensitivity: 80.8% and specificity: 91.8%). Early repolarization was found more frequently in the SQTS group than in the control group (67% vs. 23%, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: A QTcB <316 ms, J-Tpeak cB < 181 ms, and the presence of ER may indicate SQTS patients in childhood and adolescence.

Assessing liver stiffness with conventional cut-off values overestimates liver fibrosis staging in patients who received the Fontan procedure.

AIM: Patients who undergo the Fontan procedure for complex congenital heart disease are prone to liver cirrhosis. Liver stiffness (LS) reflects liver fibrosis stage in patients with chronic viral hepatitis; however, its accuracy in predicting liver fibrosis stage in Fontan patients is controversial. We aimed to clarify the correlation between LS and liver fibrosis stage in Fontan patients. METHODS: Fifty-eight Fontan patients were prospectively measured for LS with transient elastography. We undertook liver biopsy, cardiac catheterization, and laboratory tests in 22 of these patients (median age, 14.7 years; range, 9.9-32.1 years) with LS > 11.0 kPa (median, 19.2 kPa; range, 12.2-39.8 kPa); these elevated LS values suggest liver cirrhosis. RESULTS: Histologically, all patients showed mild-to-severe portal and sinusoidal fibrosis but no cirrhosis. Statistically, LS did not predict histological liver fibrosis scores (p = 0.175). Liver stiffness was not correlated with central venous pressure (p = 0.456) or with the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG; p = 0.062), although the p value for HVPG was only slightly above the threshold for significance. CONCLUSIONS: Fontan patients are prone to developing both portal and sinusoidal fibrosis. Liver stiffness could be influenced by HVPG, and using the conventional cut-off values for LS overestimates and overtreats liver fibrosis in these patients.

A rare case of truncus arteriosus Van Praagh type A3: Prenatal diagnosis and postnatal management.

Truncus arteriosus (TrA) type A3, according to the Van Praagh (VP) classification, cannot be classified under the Collett and Edwards (C-E) system. In this rare anomaly, postnatal closure of the ductus arteriosus can cause unilateral pulmonary artery obstruction; hence, prenatal diagnosis and early confirmatory postnatal diagnosis are important. This case was referred to our hospital for suspected fetal heart disease at 29 weeks' gestation. TrA C-E type 1 was diagnosed by fetal echocardiography, with a right-sided aortic arch, absent inferior vena cava, and azygos continuation. The neonate was delivered vaginally at 41 weeks' gestation. Postnatal echocardiography showed a right-sided aortic arch with the right pulmonary artery originating from the common arterial trunk and the left pulmonary artery originating from the brachiocephalic artery. The diagnosis was TrA VP type A3, with a right-sided aortic arch and left-sided ductus arteriosus. Patency of the left-sided ductus arteriosus was maintained with prostaglandin E1.alpha-cyclodextrin. Right pulmonary artery banding was performed 3 days after birth. The Rastelli procedure was performed when the patient was 2 months old and weighed 4.2 kg. Delayed diagnosis of VP type A3 can cause unilateral pulmonary artery disconnection; hence, timely and accurate diagnosis is warranted to ensure stable disease management. .

Efficacy and safety of everolimus in patients younger than 12 months with congenital subependymal giant cell astrocytoma.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a multisystem genetic disorder that activates mammalian target of rapamycin and produces tumor growth in several organs. We present five patients younger than 12 months who were diagnosed with TSC and treated with everolimus (EVL), after which congenital subependymal giant astrocytoma (cSEGA) promptly regressed in all patients. All patients achieved at least 50% reduction in the volume of cSEGA within 6 months. The most rapid reduction of cSEGA volume (79.1%) was found during the initial 3 months of EVL treatment. Patients underwent EVL treatment for an average of 27 months (range: 4-55 months). Mean EVL maintenance dose was 1.35 mg per day. EVL blood trough concentrations ranged from 2.0 to 11.7 ng/ml. The cSEGA became larger after discontinuing EVL in two patients. In all four patients who had multiple cardiac rhabdomyomas (CRMs), the CRMs showed accelerated regression after receiving EVL. Adverse events were noted in four patients: infection, stomatitis, and increased triglycerides. Four patients had febrile status epilepticus, which occurred during acute encephalopathy in a patient, and after discontinuing EVL in another. Three patients were still receiving EVL at their latest evaluations. Maintenance therapy with EVL is an effective therapeutic option for patients with cSEGA, and moreover may have additional favorable effects on other complications, even in early infancy; however, adverse effects should be carefully monitored.

Cardiac surgical strategy for extremely low-birthweight infants with pulmonary overcirculation.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to review the clinical outcomes of staged cardiac surgery in extremely low-birthweight infants with congenital heart disease and pulmonary overcirculation. METHODS: Six extremely low-birthweight infants with congenital heart disease and pulmonary overcirculation underwent staged cardiac surgery between 2005 and 2017. The median birthweight was 895 g (range 620-990 g), and the median gestational age was 28 weeks (range 23-31 weeks). Clinical outcomes were evaluated, and we focused on pulmonary haemodynamics. RESULTS: Pulmonary artery banding or bilateral pulmonary artery banding was performed as the initial palliation at a median age of 23 days with a median body weight of 880 g. Corrective surgery was performed at a median age of 187 days with a median body weight of 3.9 kg. All of the patients successfully underwent corrective surgery and survived to date. Pulmonary hypertension regressed after corrective surgery in all of the patients, except for 1 patient with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS: Acceptable outcomes can be obtained by staged cardiac surgery in extremely low-birthweight infants with congenital heart disease and pulmonary overcirculation. While early pulmonary artery banding can lead to regression of pulmonary hypertension after corrective surgery, close follow-up is required.

Coffin-Siris syndrome and cardiac anomaly with a novel SOX11 mutation.

Coffin-Siris syndrome (CSS) is characterized by growth deficiency, intellectual disability, microcephaly, dysmorphic features, and hypoplastic nails of the fifth fingers and/or toes. Variants in the genes encoding subunits of the BAF complex as well as in SOX11 encoding the transcriptional factor under the control of BAF complex are associated with CSS. We report a new patient with a novel SOX11 mutation. He showed the CSS phenotype and coarctation of the aorta. Sox11 is known to be associated with cardiac outflow development in mouse studies. Therefore, cardiac anomalies might be an important complication in patients with SOX11 mutations.

Three Cases of KCNT1 Mutations: Malignant Migrating Partial Seizures in Infancy with Massive Systemic to Pulmonary Collateral Arteries.

KCNT1 mutations are gain-of-function mutations in potassium channels resulting in severe infantile epilepsy. Herein we describe 3 infants with malignant migrating partial seizures with KCNT1 mutations accompanied by massive systemic to pulmonary collateral arteries with life-threatening hemoptysis and heart failure.

Comparison between procalcitonin and C-reactive protein in predicting bacteremias and confounding factors: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The detection of infectious bacteria in blood culture samples is important for diagnosis and treatment, but this requires 1-2 days at least, and is not adequate as a rapid test. Therefore, we have investigated the diagnostic ability and the optimal cutoff value of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) for predicting the bacteremias using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and relative cumulative frequency distribution (RCD) curves. METHODS: A case-control study was performed in inpatients (852 subjects: 426 positive cultures and 426 negative cultures) from January 1 to December 31, 2014. We retrospectively investigated their blood culture and blood chemistry findings recorded in this period using electronic medical records. RESULTS: Area under the ROC curve of PCT and CRP were 0.79 and 0.66, respectively. The optimal cutoff values were 0.5 µg/L with a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 70% for PCT and 50.0 mg/L with a sensitivity of 63% and specificity of 65% for CRP. When the optimal cutoff value was treated as a reference, the odds ratio (OR) was 71.11 and the hazard ratio (HR) was 6.27 for PCT >2.0 µg/L, and the risk of blood culture positivity was markedly elevated. PCT levels were significantly higher in the population with Gram-negative rod (GNR) infections than in the population with Gram-positive coccal (GPC) infections. CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of CRP and PCT were significantly associated with bacteremias. PCT was superior to CRP as a diagnostic indicator for predicting bacteremias, for discriminating bacterial from nonbacterial infections, and for determining bacterial species.

Comparative usefulness of inflammatory markers to indicate bacterial infection-analyzed according to blood culture results and related clinical factors.

To assess relationships of inflammatory markers and 2 related clinical factors with blood culture results, we retrospectively investigated inpatients' blood culture and blood chemistry findings that were recorded from January to December 2014 using electronic medical records and analyzed the data of 852 subjects (426 culture-positive and 426 culture-negative). Results suggested that the risk of positive blood culture statistically increased as inflammatory marker levels and the number of related factors increased. Concerning the effectiveness of inflammatory markers, when the outcome definition was also changed for C-reactive protein (CRP), the odds ratio had a similar value, whereas when the outcome definition of blood culture positivity was used for procalcitonin (PCT), the greatest effectiveness of that was detected. Therefore, the current results suggest that PCT is more useful than CRP as an auxiliary indication of bacterial infection.

Feasibility and safety of transseptal puncture procedures for radiofrequency catheter ablation in small children weighing below 30 kg: single-centre experience.

AIMS: Transseptal puncture (TSP) has become a common approach in catheter ablation of arrhythmia originating from the left atrium. In paediatric patients, however, TSP can be a challenge due to narrower access vessels and small left atrial size, and the safety of TSP in smaller children is yet to be understood. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the feasibility and safety of TSP in children weighing below 30 kg. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 655 paediatric patients who underwent catheter ablation of arrhythmia between July 2009 and April 2015, 43 cases having structurally normal hearts, weighing <30 kg and requiring TSP were included in the study. Age, height, body weight, diagnosis, and complications during TSP and catheter ablation were evaluated. The median age, height, and body weight (range) were 7.0 years (0.3-11.1), 116.8 cm (54.0-138.4 cm) and 21.5 kg (4.3-29.6 kg), respectively. Diagnosis included manifest (n = 27; 62.8%) and concealed accessory pathway (n = 14; 32.6%) and atrial tachycardia (n = 2; 4.6%). In 10 cases (23.2%), TSP using radiofrequency energy was performed. None of the patients had major complications. Pericardial effusion was recorded as a minor complication in one patient (2.3%). CONCLUSION: TSP was feasible, safe, and of low risk of complications in children weighing <30 kg.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of idiopathic left anterior fascicular ventricular tachycardia in children.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia of left anterior fascicular origin (IVT-LAF) is a rare condition, and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) therapy has not been reported in children. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the procedures and outcomes of RFCA for pediatric IVT-LAF. METHODS: Pediatric IVT-LAF cases for which RFCA was performed between June 2006 and May 2012 at our hospital were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 537 pediatric cases of RFCA, 6 had IVT-LAF; 4 had anterior fascicular involvement only, while 2 had both anterior and posterior fascicular involvement. All 6 of them underwent RFCA at the median age of 8.8 years (range 4.3-14.3 years). RFCA was successful in all patients, but 4 had recurrence and underwent 1-3 additional sessions of RFCA. In a total of 10 RFCA sessions, the overall recurrence rate was 50%. The site of RFCA was determined on the basis of detection of diastolic potential during ventricular tachycardia (7 sessions) or isolated delayed potential during sinus rhythm (1) or by pace mapping (2). During the median follow-up period of 33 months, no further recurrence was reported except for 1 patient, who had a recurrence and was scheduled for additional session at the time of this report. Major complications included 1 case of complete atrioventricular block and 1 case of complete left bundle branch block. CONCLUSION: Despite a high recurrence rate and a few complications, RFCA of the site of isolated delayed potential or diastolic potential, if applied cautiously, is a possible treatment of choice for pediatric IVT-LAF.