Double-Chambered Left Ventricle Diagnosed in Fetus and Follow-up During the First Year of Life: A Case Report.

Double-chambered left ventricle (DCLV) is a rare congenital cardiac lesion. It is usually an incidental finding in children and young adults. Diagnosis during fetal life is exceedingly rare. We report a case of DCLV diagnosed in the prenatal period associated with a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Transthoracic echocardiographic and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the prenatal findings. At seven-month follow-up, the baby was asymptomatic. Transthoracic echocardiographic check-up revealed spontaneous closure of the VSD and stable aspect of the main left ventricle and the accessory chamber.

The yield of 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography in the assessment of symptomatic school-age children.

INTRODUCTION: Lightheadedness, syncope, dyspnea, chest pain, palpitation, loss of consciousness (LOC) or malaise are a frequent reason for consultation in school-age children (SAC). The yield of holter monitoring (HM) in the investigation of these symptoms in SAC is still controversial given the scarce studies. AIM: To determine the prevalence of baseline ECG abnormalities and those detected in HM in SAC, and to assess the predictive factors of abnormal HM test. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study in which we had included all the consecutive SAC (6 to 12 years) presenting: syncope or lightheadedness or palpitation, dyspnea, or chest pain, malaise, LOC and referred to our department for HM. RESULTS: We included 366 children. Mean age was 9.7 ± 1.88 years. The major symptoms experienced by the patients were: palpitation (50.7%), chest pain (16.9%), lightheadedness (11.9%), syncope (6.9%), LOC (5.3%), ECG was abnormal in 8.7%. The two most common baseline ECG abnormalities were premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) (1.8%) and right bundle branch block (1.6%). HM was positive in 101 (26.6%) patients. The most common abnormalities in HM were vagal hypertonia in 61 patients (16.1%), PVCs in 29 patients (7.7%), Malignant abnormalities were encountered in 16 patients (13.9%) whereas benign abnormalities in 99 patients (86.1%). In the multivariate analysis: Age≥10 years, mean heart rate <94 beats per minute, the presence of syncope, LOC, malaise and the presence of PVCs in baseline ECG were identified as independent risk factors of abnormal holter. CONCLUSION: HM has an important diagnostic value in symptomatic SAC. It allows the identification of benign as well as malignant arrhythmias, which require urgent management.

[Anatomic repair of transposition of the great arteries or arterial switch operation. Report of 62 cases]. / La reparation anatomique de la transposition des gros vaisseaux ou switch arteriel. A propos de 62 cas.

Between January 1990 and September 2003, 62 patients underwent anatomic repair of a transposition of the great arteries. Mean operative age is 40 days. Transposition of the great arteries was simple in 38 cases and associated to a large ventricular septal defect in 24 cases. 44 patients have had an atrial septostomy of Rashkind and 45 an infusion of prostaglandin E 1.5 patients with simple transposition of the great arteries have had left ventricular retraining before arteriel switch. In association to arterial switch, were performed closure of ventricular septal defect in 24 cases, cure of coarctation of the aorta in 4 cases and cure of an abnormal partial pulmonary venous return in 1 case. Early mortality was 6,45%. After a mean follow up of 3 years, one patient died suddenly (late mortality is 1.72%) and one patient had to have 2 reoperations. Results of anatomic repair are now excellent. Late mortality is essentially related to coronary complications so that a careful follow-up is mandatory.