Off-label use of a vena caval filter in the SVC in an adolescent with upper deep vein thrombosis.

Vena caval filters remain as a useful tool in patients with deep vein thrombosis and contraindications to anticoagulation. Although they are rarely used in paediatric patients, they have been shown to be safe and effective when used in the inferior vena cava.In this case report, we describe the off-label use of a retrievable vena caval filter in the superior vena cava in an adolescent with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia with extensive thrombosis of the right upper neck veins as a means to reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism.

Transcatheter management of proximal stent migration in coarctation of the aorta.

Proximal stent migration in setting of transcatheter management of coarctation of the aorta is a rare complication, which may require emergency surgery. Herein, we report a successful transcatheter management of proximal stent migration in a high surgical risk, a 14-year-old girl, which caused partial occlusion of both the descending aorta and the left subclavian artery.

Repositioning an embolised stent during a percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation.

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation is a less invasive procedure to treat right outflow tract dysfunction related to surgical procedures such as repair of Tetralogy of Fallot. Despite the lower risks, complications have been reported, namely embolisation of the pre-stent. We report a case of a 16-year-old boy, whose procedure was complicated by embolisation of the pre-stents and the strategy used to reimplant them, prior to the successful implantation of a pulmonary valve.

Premature closure of ductus arteriosus after a single dose of diclofenac during pregnancy.

A male term neonate was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in the first hours of life with central cyanosis. Echocardiogram showed severe biventricular hypertrophy, markedly right-sided, tricuspid regurgitation, a patent foramen ovale and a closed ductus arteriosus (CDA). The mother recalled being treated with a single dose of intravenous diclofenac for low back pain 2 weeks earlier. The newborn was started on propranolol with symptomatic improvement and was discharged on day 10. At 1-month follow-up, he showed complete resolution of ventricular hypertrophy and suspended propranolol. In the literature, of the 22 cases of CDA after intrauterine exposure to diclofenac, 11 resolved in utero, 3 required ventilatory and inotropic support and 1 evolved to persistent pulmonary hypertension. In this case, a thorough anamnesis was key to identify the probable cause of an otherwise unexplained transient ventricular hypertrophy. This case also alerts to the fetal risks of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during the third trimester, requiring close monitoring.

Pneumopericardium and pleural effusion: a rare complication of paediatric pericardiocentesis.

Pneumopericardium is a rare complication of pericardiocentesis (PC), occurring as a result of either a direct pleuropericardial communication or a leaky drainage system. Pneumopericardium is often self-limiting; however, physicians should be aware of this complication as it may progress to tension pneumopericardium, which requires immediate recognition and management. PC has been associated with pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum or subcutaneous emphysema, but the association with pleural effusion has been less reported. The authors present the case of a 14-year-old healthy boy who developed post-PC pneumopericardium and pleural effusion, a rare association reported in the literature. The diagnosis of this potential life-threatening event was made using readily available complementary diagnostic methods, such as transthoracic echocardiography and chest X-ray.

Insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular changes in a group of obese children.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity-related comorbidities are present in young obese children, providing a platform for early adult cardiovascular disorders. OBJECTIVES: To compare and correlate markers of adiposity to metabolic disturbances, vascular and cardiac morphology in a European pediatric obese cohort. METHODS: We carried out an observational and transversal analysis in a cohort consisting of 121 obese children of both sexes, between the ages of 6 and 17 years. The control group consisted of 40 children with normal body mass index within the same age range. Markers of adiposity, plasma lipids and lipoproteins, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, common carotid artery intima-media thickness and left ventricular diameters were analyzed. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the control and obese groups for the variables analyzed, all higher in the obese group, except for age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin, higher in the control group. In the obese group, body mass index was directly correlated to left ventricular mass (r=0.542; p=0.001), the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (r=0.378; p=<0.001) and mean common carotid artery intima-media thickness (r=0.378; p=<0.001). In that same group, insulin resistance was present in 38.1%, 12.5% had a combined dyslipidemic pattern, and eccentric hypertrophy was the most common left ventricular geometric pattern. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that these markers may be used in clinical practice to stratify cardiovascular risk, as well as to assess the impact of weight control programs.

Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia and Cardiovascular Changes in a Group of Obese Children / Insulino-resistência, Dislipidemia e Alterações Cardiovasculares num Grupo de Crianças Obesas

Introduction: Obesity-related comorbidities are present in young obese children, providing a platform for early adult cardiovascular disorders. Objectives: To compare and correlate markers of adiposity to metabolic disturbances, vascular and cardiac morphology in a European pediatric obese cohort. Methods: We carried out an observational and transversal analysis in a cohort consisting of 121 obese children of both sexes, between the ages of 6 and 17 years. The control group consisted of 40 children with normal body mass index within the same age range. Markers of adiposity, plasma lipids and lipoproteins, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance, common carotid artery intima-media thickness and left ventricular diameters were analyzed. Results: There were statistically significant differences between the control and obese groups for the variables analyzed, all higher in the obese group, except for age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin, higher in the control group. In the obese group, body mass index was directly correlated to left ventricular mass (r=0.542; p=0.001), the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (r=0.378; p=<0.001) and mean common carotid artery intima-media thickness (r=0.378; p=<0.001). In that same group, insulin resistance was present in 38.1%, 12.5% had a combined dyslipidemic pattern, and eccentric hypertrophy was the most common left ventricular geometric pattern. Conclusions: These results suggest that these markers may be used in clinical practice to stratify cardiovascular risk, as well as to assess the impact of weight control programs. .

Fundamento: As comorbidades relacionadas com a obesidade encontram-se patentes em crianças jovens obesas e são, potencialmente, um ponto de partida para as doenças cardiovasculares em adultos jovens. Objetivos: Comparar e correlacionar marcadores de adiposidade com distúrbios metabólicos e alterações cardiovasculares numa coorte de crianças obesas europeias. Métodos: Estudo observacional e transversal de uma coorte composta por 121 crianças obesas de ambos os gêneros, entre 6 e 17 anos de idade. O grupo controle incluiu 40 crianças com índice de massa corporal normal dentro da mesma faixa etária. Analisamos marcadores de adiposidade, lípides e lipoproteínas, o índice de insulino-resistência, a espessura da camada íntima-média da artéria carótida comum e os diâmetros do ventrículo esquerdo. Resultados: Observamos diferenças significativas entre os grupos controle e obeso para todos os parâmetros em análise, com todos os valores mais elevados no grupo obeso, exceto a idade, a lipoproteína de alta densidade e a adiponectina, superiores no grupo controle. No grupo obeso, o índice de massa corporal correlacionou‑se diretamente com a massa ventricular esquerda (r=0,542; p=0,001), com o índice de insulino-resistência (r = 0,378; p = < 0,001) e com a espessura da camada íntima-média da artéria carótida comum (r = 0,378; p = <0,001). Ainda no grupo obeso, 38,1% tinham insulino-resistência, 12,5% apresentavam um padrão de dislipidemia combinada, e hipertrofia excêntrica foi a forma geométrica ventricular mais observada. Conclusões: Os resultados obtidos sugerem que os marcadores analizados podem ser utilizados para aferir risco cardiovascular, assim como para avaliar o impacto analítico e morfológico dos programas de redução de peso. .

[Asymptomatic cardiac tumor in a child: an incidental diagnosis]. / Tumor cardíaco em criança assintomática: um diagnóstico acidental.

Cardiac tumors in the pediatric population are rare, their incidence range between 0.001% and 0.003%. They are mostly benign, rhabdomyomas the most common type, followed by fibromas. The clinical features are being usually nonspecific and depend on the size and location of the tumor within the heart. We report the case of a previously healthy four-year-old boy referred for flu-like symptoms. A respiratory infection was suspected and a chest X-ray showed an increased cardiothoracic index. An echocardiogram revealed a single large heterogeneous mass in the left ventricle emerging from the lateral wall. Despite its size, the mass did not obstruct the left ventricular outflow tract or affect mitral valve function. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed a large mass whose imaging features were suggestive of a fibroma. He became symptomatic during follow-up and was referred for surgical excision of the mass. Histological study confirmed a fibroma. At present the patient remains asymptomatic.