Heart at the center of life: An in-depth examination of the experiences in the life journeys of adolescents diagnosed with congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: The experiences and needs of adolescents undergo significant changes due to the rapid physiological, psychological, and social transformations that occur during this period. Examining the experiences of adolescents with chronic diseases throughout their life journeys will help to identify and meet their needs. This study aims to contribute to the literature gap by focusing on the experiences of adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) during their life journey. METHODS: This qualitative study included 17 adolescents diagnosed with CHD and was conducted in two hospitals between January and November 2023. Data collection included face-to-face semi-structured interviews with participants, while analysis was conducted using MAXQDA software. RESULTS: The findings revealed three main themes describing the experiences in the life journeys of adolescents with CHD. These are the Emotional Journey: Remembering the Past and Persoal Challenges; the Health Journey: Attitudes of Health Professionals and Information Sharing; and the Social Journey: Relationships with peers, teachers, and family members. CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights into the experiences of adolescents living with CHD and highlights the emotional, health, and social challenges they face. APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: The study suggests that healthcare providers should prioritize building solid relationships with adolescents with CHD, involving them in decision-making and meeting their emotional needs. Public awareness about CHD should also be increased to reduce stigma. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial to optimize health outcomes and quality of life for adolescents with CHD.

A rare complication after an interventional procedure using the common carotid: carotid pseudoaneurysm in an infant.

The carotid artery is a valuable vascular access that can be used in patients who have undergone repetitive interventional and surgical procedures and premature babies. In the past, cut-down was used but nowadays, mostly the procedure is performed under ultrasonographic guidance. Complications such as bleeding, haematoma, and pseudoaneurysm may occur when the carotid artery is used as a vascular access for the procedures such as aortic balloon valvuloplasty, coarctation balloon angioplasty, or after interventional or surgical treatments to the carotid artery. Although pseudoaneurysm is very rare, prompt diagnosis and accurate treatment planning are life-saving. In this article, the diagnosis and treatment of pseudoaneurysm in the left common carotid after transcatheter coarctation balloon angioplasty in a 6-month-old infant will be presented.

Early results of Pulsta® transcatheter heart valve in patients with enlarged right ventricular outflow tract and severe pulmonary regurgitation due to transannular patch.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility, effectivity, and safety of a novel self-expandable valve system, Pulsta® transcatheter heart valve in patients with tetralogy of fallot and severe pulmonary regurgitation after transannular patch repair. BACKGROUND: Severe pulmonary regurgitation after tetralogy of fallot repair is a life-threatening problem and should be treated by pulmonary valve implantation. Although percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation has been ever increasingly used for this purpose, available balloon-expandable valves have limitations and cannot be used by most patients. Pulsta® transcatheter heart valve is a new self-expandable valve system and offers a new solution to be used in patients with different types of native right ventricular outflow tract geometry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with severe regurgitation after tetralogy of fallot repair with a transannular patch have been enrolled in the study according to echocardiographic examination. MRI was used in asymptomatic patients to delineate the indication and the right ventricular outflow tract geometry. Pulsta® transcatheter heart valve implantation was performed in ten patients, and preprocedural, procedure, and 6 months follow-up findings of the patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Pulsta® pulmonary valve implantation was performed in ten patients successfully without any severe complications. Valve functions were perfect in six of ten patients, while the others had insignificant regurgitation by echocardiographic examination at the end of 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that Pulsta® transcatheter heart valve is a feasible, effective, and safe method in the treatment of severe pulmonary regurgitation due to transannular patch repair in patients with tetralogy of fallot.

Early and mid-term outcomes of transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects using the Lifetech™ Konar-MF Occluder device (MFO).

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects is challenging. Double disk-designed devices have high adverse event rates; therefore, research into new devices persists. One such devise is the LifetechTM Konar-MF Occluder device (MFO), which is increasingly used. The purpose of this study is to present mid-term results of MFO for transcatheter closure of patients with perimembraneous ventricular septal defect. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records of the 52 patients with perimembraneous ventricular septal defect who had undergone transcatheter closure with MFO were reviewed. Demographic, echocardiographic, and procedure details were investigated. Three years follow-up results were recorded. RESULTS: We closed the perimembraneous ventricular septal defect in 51 of 52 patients (98%). The femoral venous approach was used in 27 patients (53 %) whilst no arteriovenous loop was established in the remaining patients. No significant procedure-related complication occurred. On day 1 echocardiography, the residual ventricular septal defect rate was 31%. Mean±SD (range) follow-up duration was 36 ± 7,9 (18-54) months. In the follow-up, at 6th months, only four patients had hemodynamically insignificant residual defects. No severe dysrhythmia was detected including complete heart block. A right bundle branch block pattern was seen in one patient. CONCLUSION: This study showed that MFO is a safe and effective device in the transcatheter treatment of perimembraneous ventricular septal defect's with mid-term follow-up.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic in Turkey: A single-centre experience.

AIM: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may result in a life-threatening hyperinflammatory condition named multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). We aimed to assess demographics, clinical presentations, laboratory characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with MIS-C. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients with MIS-C managed between August 2020 and March 2021 at Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity Child Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital in Turkey. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients (23 male, 51%) with a median age of 8.7 years (interquartile range: 5.6-11.7 years) were enrolled to study. The SARS-CoV-2 serology was positive in 43 (95%) patients. Organ-system involvement included the dermatologic in 41 (91%), cardiovascular in 39 (87%), hematologic in 36 (80%) and gastrointestinal in 36 (80%) patients. Acute anterior uveitis was diagnosed in nine (20%) patients. Two patients presented with clinical findings of deep neck infection such as fever, neck pain, trismus, swelling and induration on the cervical lymph node. One patient presented with Henoch-Schonlein purpura-like eruption. Coronary artery dilatation was detected in five (11%) patients. For treatment of MIS-C, intravenous immunoglobulin was used in 44 (98%) patients, methylprednisolone in 27 (60%) and anakinra in 9 (20%) patients. The median duration of hospitalisation was nine days. All patients recovered. CONCLUSIONS: Children with MIS-C might have variable clinical presentations. Acute anterior uveitis might be a prominent presentation of MIS-C and require ophthalmological examination. It is essential to make patient-based decisions and apply a stepwise approach for the treatment of this life-threatening disease.

Congenital arteriovenous fistula between descending aorta and the left innominate vein.

Thoracic aortocaval fistulae are rare entities where a direct shunt between thoracic arteries and systemic veins is seen. They can be traumatic or congenital in origin. Congenital thoracic aortocaval fistulae usually involve descending aorta and azygos, hemiazygos systems. Presenting symptoms range from continuous murmur to signs of congestive heart failure. In this case report, imaging findings of a 3-year-old girl referred for continuous murmur over the left sternal border are presented. Computed tomography angiography revealed multiple tortuous vessels along the descending aorta with a course toward the left brachiocephalic vein, and was suspicious for an aorta-venous fistula. Subsequent digital subtraction angiography for treatment planning showed a fistula originating at the level of the left 6th intercostal artery, with direct drainage into the left brachiocephalic vein without involvement of the azygos/hemiazygos system.