Outcomes of Neonates Born with Symptomatic Tetralogy of Fallot and Absent Ductus Arteriosus.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that neonates with symptomatic tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and absent ductus arteriosus (ADA) have worse clinical outcomes compared with those with a ductus arteriosus (DA), and that this difference is driven by those born with ADA and with critically deficient pulmonary blood flow (CDPBF). STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective, multicenter cohort study of neonates who underwent intervention for symptomatic TOF comparing death and reintervention between subjects with and without a DA identified on fetal echocardiogram or on echocardiogram performed in the first postnatal day. Exclusion criteria were as follows: inability to define DA status, collaterals supplying pulmonary blood flow, atrioventricular septal defect, and absent pulmonary valve. We defined CDPBF as undergoing a procedure to augment pulmonary blood flow on the date of birth or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation prior to such a procedure. RESULTS: The study cohort included 519 patients, among whom 11% had ADA. Patients with ADA were more likely to have a genetic syndrome and had smaller branch pulmonary artery size. In analyses adjusting for center, interventional treatment strategy, genetic syndrome, and minimum branch pulmonary artery size, ADA was associated with higher mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio of 2.37 (95% CI: 1.07,5.27; P = .034). Seven patients had CDPBF (1.3% of the entire cohort and 12% of patients with ADA). CONCLUSIONS: A minority of symptomatic TOF neonates have ADA, which is associated with higher adjusted mortality risk compared with those with a DA. CDPBF appears to be a rare but important entity in this population.

Extravascular protrusion of the Alterra adaptive prestent identified on surveillance computed tomography imaging.

BACKGROUND: The Alterra adaptive prestent is a novel self-expanding device designed to provide a landing zone for the 29 mm SAPIEN 3 valve to treat pulmonary regurgitation in patients with a right ventricular outflow tract that is too large for a balloon expandable valve alone. The mechanism of fixation for the Alterra prestent is radial force from the self-expanding stent frame, combined with a unique set of flared "tines" that protrude from both ends of the stent. AIMS, METHODS, AND RESULTS: In this report, we describe 6 patients who underwent uncomplicated transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement with an Alterra adaptive prestent and SAPIEN 3 valve and had surveillance chest computed tomography (CT) scans performed 1 day to 21 months after implant. In each patient, the CT scan demonstrated extravascular extension of a portion of the Alterra prestent, without clinical sequelae, but with extension into the ascending aorta in 1 patient and contact with the ascending aorta, left pulmonary vein, or left atrial appendage in 3 others. CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance CT imaging shows that the Alterra prestent can perforate the pulmonary artery and/or right ventricle. Although no sequelae were seen in these patients, prestent perforation has the potential to be clinically important. Implanters should be aware of this finding and its potential implications. As experience with the Alterra prestent grows, it will be important to further define the risk factors, incidence, and implications of this phenomenon.

Finite element modeling with patient-specific geometry to assess clinical risks of percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is a non-surgical treatment for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction. During PPVI, a stented valve, delivered via catheter, replaces the dysfunctional pulmonary valve. Stent oversizing allows valve anchoring within the RVOT, but overexpansion can intrude on the surrounding structures. Potentially dangerous outcomes include aortic valve insufficiency (AVI) from aortic root (AR) distortion and myocardial ischemia from coronary artery (CA) compression. Currently, risks are evaluated via balloon angioplasty/sizing before stent deployment. Patient-specific finite element (FE) analysis frameworks can improve pre-procedural risk assessment, but current methods require hundreds of hours of high-performance computation. METHODS: We created a simplified method to simulate the procedure using patient-specific FE models for accurate, efficient pre-procedural PPVI (using balloon expandable valves) risk assessment. The methodology was tested by retrospectively evaluating the clinical outcome of 12 PPVI candidates. RESULTS: Of 12 patients (median age 14.5 years) with dysfunctional RVOT, 7 had native RVOT and 5 had RV-PA conduits. Seven patients had undergone successful RVOT stent/valve placement, three had significant AVI on balloon testing, one had left CA compression, and one had both AVI and left CA compression. A model-calculated change of more than 20% in lumen diameter of the AR or coronary arteries correctly predicted aortic valve sufficiency and/or CA compression in all the patients. CONCLUSION: Agreement between FE results and clinical outcomes is excellent. Additionally, these models run in 2-6 min on a desktop computer, demonstrating potential use of FE analysis for pre-procedural risk assessment of PPVI in a clinically relevant timeframe.

Feasibility of intentional bioprosthetic valve fracture in the tricuspid position.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter tricuspid valve-in-valve (ViV) replacement has yielded good hemodynamic outcomes in the treatment of dysfunctional bioprosthetic valves (BPVs). Intentional fracture of certain rigid BPV frames, if feasible, allows a larger implanted valve when compared with implant into an unfractured BPV. There remains limited data on the feasibility of tricuspid valve frame fracture. AIMS: Evaluate the feasibility of transcatheter tricuspid ViV replatement with fracture of the underlying BPV ring. METHODS: An international multicenter registry of tricuspid ViV replacement with intentional tricuspid valve frame fracture was created. Demographic data along with procedural characteristics, outcomes, and follow-up data were collected. Comparison was made to the pre- and post-ViV replacement with fracture of the tricuspid valve frame conditions. RESULTS: Ten patients from six centers were included with a median age and weight of 29 years and 67.3 kg respectively. Tricuspid valve frame fracture was performed using a median balloon diameter 3 mm (IQR 3-5) larger than the true inner diameter (ID). The final ID was a mean of 1.5 mm (95% CI: 0.35, 2.64: p < 0.05), and median 1.1 mm (0.5, 2.1) larger than the reported true ID of the surgical BPV after ViV replacement. The mean tricuspid inflow gradient by echocardiogram decreased by 6.65 mmHg (95% CI: 4.14, 9.15: p < 0.001). All procedures were without complication, specifically there was no heart block, pericardial effusion, or right coronary disruption. CONCLUSION: Intentional tricuspid valve frame fracture with tricuspid ViV replacement is feasible and can increase the valve orifice potentially reducing the risk of ViV patient prosthesis mismatch and is not associated with significant complications.

Feasibility of Focused Cardiac Ultrasound Performed by Trainees During Cesarean Delivery.

BACKGROUND: Anesthesiology experts advocate for formal education in maternal critical care, including the use of focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU) in high-acuity obstetric units. While benefits and feasibility of FCU performed by experts have been well documented, little evidence exists on the feasibility of FCU acquired by examiners with limited experience. The primary aim of this study was to assess how often echocardiographic images of sufficient quality to guide clinical decision-making were attained by trainees with limited experience performing FCU in term parturients undergoing cesarean delivery (CD). METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, healthy term parturients (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] ≤ 3, ≥37 weeks of gestation) with singleton pregnancy, body mass index (BMI) <40 kg/m 2 , and no history of congenital and acquired cardiac disease undergoing scheduled, elective CD were recruited by a trainee. After undergoing standardized training, including an 8-hour online E-learning module, a 1-day hands-on FCU course, and 20 to 30 supervised scans until the trainee was assessed competent in image acquisition, 8 trainees with limited FCU experience performed apical 4-chamber (A4CH), parasternal long-axis (PLAX), and short-axis (PSAX) view preoperatively after spinal anesthesia (SPA) and intraoperatively after neonatal delivery (ND). Obtained FCU images were graded 1 to 5 by 2 blinded instructors (1 = no image to 5 = perfect image obtainable; ≥3 defined as image quality sufficient for clinical decision-making). RESULTS: Following the screening of 95 women, 8 trainees with limited FCU experience each performed a median of 5 [3-8] FCUs in a total of 64 women. Images of sufficient quality were obtainable in 61 (95.3 %) and 57 (89.1 %) of women after SPA and ND, respectively. FCU images of perfect image quality were obtainable in 9 (14.1 %) and 7 (10.9 %) women preoperatively after SPA and intraoperatively after ND, respectively. A PLAX, PSAX, and A4CH view with grade ≥3 was obtained in 53 (82.8 %), 58 (90.6 %) and 40 (62.5 %) of women preoperatively after SPA and in 50 (78.1 %), 49 (76.6 %), and 29 (45.3 %) of women intraoperatively after ND. Left ventricular function could be assessed in 39 of 40 women (97.5 %) preoperatively after SPA and 39 of 40 (97.5%) intraoperatively after ND. Right ventricular function could be assessed in 31 of 40 (77.5 %) after SPA and in 23 of 40 (59%) after ND. We observed a difference in image grading between different trainees in the AP4CH-view ( P = .0001). No difference in image grading was found between preoperative and intraoperative FCUs. CONCLUSIONS: FCU is feasible in the parturient undergoing CD and images of sufficient quality for clinical decision-making were obtained by trainees with limited experience in almost all parturients. Image acquisition and quality in the A4CH view may be impacted by the individual trainee performing the FCU.

Simultaneous Measurement of Muon Neutrino ν_{µ} Charged-Current Single π

Neutrino-induced charged-current single π^{+} production in the Δ(1232) resonance region is of considerable interest to accelerator-based neutrino oscillation experiments. In this Letter, high statistic differential cross sections are reported for the semiexclusive reaction ν_{µ}A→µ^{-}π^{+}+ nucleon(s) on scintillator, carbon, water, iron, and lead targets recorded by MINERvA using a wideband ν_{µ} beam with ⟨E_{ν}⟩≈6 GeV. Suppression of the cross section at low Q^{2} and enhancement of low T_{π} are observed in both light and heavy nuclear targets compared with phenomenological models used in current neutrino interaction generators. The cross sections per nucleon for iron and lead compared with CH across the kinematic variables probed are 0.8 and 0.5 respectively, a scaling which is also not predicted by current generators.

Neutrino-Induced Coherent π

MINERvA has measured the ν_{µ}-induced coherent π^{+} cross section simultaneously in hydrocarbon (CH), graphite (C), iron (Fe), and lead (Pb) targets using neutrinos from 2 to 20 GeV. The measurements exceed the predictions of the Rein-Sehgal and Berger-Sehgal PCAC based models at multi-GeV ν_{µ} energies and at produced π^{+} energies and angles, E_{π}>1 GeV and θ_{π}<10°. Measurements of the cross-section ratios of Fe and Pb relative to CH reveal the effective A scaling to increase from an approximate A^{1/3} scaling at few GeV to an A^{2/3} scaling for E_{ν}>10 GeV.

Simultaneous Measurement of ν_{µ} Quasielasticlike Cross Sections on CH, C, H_{2}O, Fe, and Pb as a Function of Muon Kinematics at MINERvA.

This Letter presents the first simultaneous measurement of the quasielasticlike neutrino-nucleus cross sections on C, water, Fe, Pb, and scintillator (hydrocarbon or CH) as a function of longitudinal and transverse muon momentum. The ratio of cross sections per nucleon between Pb and CH is always above unity and has a characteristic shape as a function of transverse muon momentum that evolves slowly as a function of longitudinal muon momentum. The ratio is constant versus longitudinal momentum within uncertainties above a longitudinal momentum of 4.5 GeV/c. The cross section ratios to CH for C, water, and Fe remain roughly constant with increasing longitudinal momentum, and the ratios between water or C to CH do not have any significant deviation from unity. Both the overall cross section level and the shape for Pb and Fe as a function of transverse muon momentum are not reproduced by current neutrino event generators. These measurements provide a direct test of nuclear effects in quasielasticlike interactions, which are major contributors to long-baseline neutrino oscillation data samples.

The ductus arteriosus: a review of embryology to intervention.

This article reviews the physiology of the ductus arteriosus, the pathophysiology of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and the role advanced imaging such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can play in guiding diagnosis and percutaneous or surgical intervention. A PDA can have variable clinical and radiologic presentations and can be important to characterize in patients with vascular rings, aortic maldevelopment and congenital heart disease. An understanding of the PDA and the application of CT and MRI can allow the radiologist to provide key information to physicians who plan to close a PDA or maintain PDA patency in the setting of ductal-dependent congenital heart disease.

Pre-Fontan Assessment Utilizing Combined Cardiac Catheterization and Cardiac MRI: Comparison to the Pre-Fontan Catheterization.

Single ventricle patients eligible for Fontan completion undergo pre-Fontan catheterization for hemodynamic and anatomic assessment prior to surgery. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging may be used to evaluate pre-Fontan anatomy, physiology, and collateral burden. We describe our center's outcomes in patients undergoing pre-Fontan catheterization combined with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. A retrospective review of patients undergoing pre-Fontan catheterization from 10/2018 to 04/2022 at Texas Children's Hospital was performed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: combined cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and catheterization (combined group) and those who underwent catheterization only (catheterization only group). There were 37 patients in the combined group and 40 in the catheterization only group. Both groups were similar in age and weight. Patients undergoing combined procedures received less contrast, and experienced less in-lab time, fluoroscopy time and catheterization procedure time. Median radiation exposure was lower in the combined procedure group but was not statistically significant. Intubation and total anesthesia times were higher in the combined procedure group. Patients undergoing a combined procedure were less likely to have collateral occlusion performed than in the catheterization only group. Bypass time, intensive care unit length of stay, and chest tube duration were similar in both groups at the time of Fontan completion. Combined pre-Fontan assessment decreases catheterization procedure and fluoroscopy time associated with cardiac catheterization at the expense of longer anesthetic times, and results in similar Fontan outcomes compared to when cardiac catheterization alone is utilized.

Over-expansion of right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits during transcatheter pulmonary valve placement.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety and feasibility of over-expansion of right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits during transcatheter pulmonary valve placement. BACKGROUND: Transcatheter pulmonary valve placement is an alternative to surgical pulmonary valve replacement. Traditionally, it was thought to be unsafe to expand a conduit to >110% of its original size. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study from two centers includes patients with right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits with attempted transcatheter pulmonary valve placement from 2010 to 2017. Demographic, procedural, echocardiographic and follow-up data, and complications were evaluated in control and overdilation (to >110% original conduit size) groups. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-two patients (51 overdilation and 121 control) had attempted transcatheter pulmonary valve placement (98% successful). The overdilation group was younger (11.2 versus 16.7 years, p < 0.001) with smaller conduits (15 versus 22 mm, p < 0.001); however, the final valve size was not significantly different (19.7 versus 20.2 mm, p = 0.2). Baseline peak echocardiographic gradient was no different (51.8 versus 55.6 mmHg, p = 0.3). Procedural complications were more frequent in overdilation (18%) than control (7%) groups (most successfully addressed during the procedure). One patient from each group required urgent surgical intervention, with no procedural mortality. Follow-up echocardiographic peak gradients were similar (24.1 versus 26 mmHg, p = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Over-expansion of right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits during transcatheter pulmonary valve placement can be performed successfully. Procedural complications are more frequent with conduit overdilation, but there was no difference in the rate of life-threatening complications. There was no difference in valve function at most recent follow-up, and no difference in rate of reintervention. The long-term outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary valve placement with conduit over-expansion requires further study.

Extra-cardiac and complex Fontan baffle fenestration using radio frequency current via surgical electrocautery.

BACKGROUND: Fontan baffle punctures and creation of Fontan fenestration for cardiac catheterisation procedures remain challenging especially due to the heavy calcification of prosthetic material and complex anatomy. OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate our experience using radiofrequency current via surgical electrocautery needle for Fontan baffle puncture to facilitate diagnostic, electrophysiology, and interventional procedures. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all Fontan patients (pts) who underwent Fontan baffle puncture using radiofrequency energy via surgical electrocautery from three centres were performed from January 2011 to July 2021. RESULTS: A total of 19 pts underwent 22 successful Fontan baffle puncture. The median age and weight were 17 (3-36 years) and 55 (14-88) kg, respectively. The procedural indications for Fontan fenestration creation included: diagnostic study (n = 1), atrial septostomy and stenting (n = 1), electrophysiology study and ablation procedures (n = 8), Fontan baffle stenting for Fontan failure including protein-losing enteropathy (n = 7), and occlusion of veno-venous collaterals (n = 2) for cyanosis. The type of Fontan baffles included: extra-cardiac conduits (n = 12), lateral tunnel (n = 5), classic atrio-pulmonary connection (n = 1), and intra-cardiac baffle (n = 1). A Fontan baffle puncture was initially attempted using traditional method in 6 pts and Baylis radiofrequency trans-septal system in 2 pts unsuccessfully. In all pts, Fontan baffle puncture using radiofrequency energy via electrocautery needle was successful. The radiofrequency energy utilised was (10-50 W) and required 1-5 attempts for 2-5 seconds. There were no vascular or neurological complications. CONCLUSIONS: Radiofrequency current delivery using surgical electrocautery facilitates Fontan baffle puncture in patients with complex and calcified Fontan baffles for diagnostic, interventional, and electrophysiology procedures.

Evolution of surgical repair of intraseptal anomalous left coronary artery with myocardial ischaemia.

BACKGROUND: Anomalous aortic origin of the left coronary artery with intraseptal course is a rare coronary anomaly associated with an increased risk of myocardial ischaemia. The role and techniques for surgical intervention are evolving, with numerous novel surgical techniques for this challenging anatomy reported in the last 5 years. We report our single-centre experience with surgical repair of intraseptal anomalous left coronary artery in the paediatric population, including clinical presentation, evaluation, and short- to mid-term outcomes. METHODS: All patients with coronary anomalies presenting to our institution undergo standardised clinical evaluation. Five patients aged 4 to 17 years underwent surgical intervention for intraseptal anomalous aortic origin of the left coronary artery between 2012 and 2022. Surgical techniques included coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 1), direct reimplantation with limited supra-arterial myotomy via right ventriculotomy (n = 1), and transconal supra-arterial myotomy with right ventricular outflow tract patch reconstruction (n = 3). RESULTS: All patients had evidence of haemodynamically significant coronary compression, and three had evidence of inducible myocardial ischaemia pre-operatively. There were no deaths or major complications. Median follow-up was 6.1 months (range 3.1-33.4 months). Patients who underwent supra-arterial myotomy (with or without reimplantation) had improved coronary flow and perfusion based on stress imaging and catheterisation data. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical approaches to intraseptal anomalous left coronary artery with evidence of myocardial ischaemia continue to evolve, with new techniques demonstrating promising improvement in coronary perfusion. Further studies are warranted to determine long-term outcomes and refine indications for repair.

Placenta percreta in primigravida with unscarred uterus complicated by uterine rupture and sudden maternal and fetal death: an autopsy case report.

Placenta percreta is a rare, aggressive, and severe form of the placenta accreta spectrum. One of its most devastating effects is the sudden rupture of uterus. Uterine scarring is the leading risk factor for uterine rupture, although it can also happen, but rarely, in an unscarred uterus showing more severe repercussions. The present study reported a case of an Egyptian primigravida female, aged 29 years old, at 32 weeks of gestation who died suddenly due to uterine rupture complicating placenta percreta, the diagnosis of which was first settled during autopsy. There was no history of abdominal trauma. No medical history of significance was present. Autopsy denoted an intrauterine fetal death of 32 weeks gestational age. The fundus of the uterus had a laceration (rupture) of the uterine wall including the serosa and myometrium. The placenta has extensively infiltrated the fundus uterine wall and penetrated the myometrium and serosa. Histopathological examination of the ruptured site on the uterus confirms total invasion of the uterine wall by chorionic villi with the presence of hemorrhage and fibrin indicating placenta percreta. Uterine rupture due to placenta percreta may go unnoticed, especially when no associated high-risk factors exist. The current case depicts that placenta percreta is a rare but critical complication of pregnancy that may exist at any stage of pregnancy without any associated high-risk factors with unusual symptoms and leads to uterine rupture and sudden death.

Impact of Management Strategy on Feeding and Somatic Growth in Neonates with Symptomatic Tetralogy of Fallot: Results from the Congenital Cardiac Research Collaborative.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early growth following primary or staged repair of neonatal symptomatic tetralogy of Fallot (sTOF). STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective, multicenter cohort study of consecutive infants with sTOF who underwent initial intervention at age ≤30 days, from 2005 to 2017. Management strategies were either primary repair or staged repair (ie, initial palliation followed by complete repair). The primary outcome was change in weight-for-age z-score (ΔWAZ) from the initial intervention to age 6 ± 2 months. Secondary outcomes included method and mode of feeding, feeding-related medications, and feeding-related readmissions. Propensity score adjustment was used to account for baseline differences between groups. A secondary analysis was performed comparing patients stratified by the presence of adequate growth (6-month ΔWAZ > -0.5) or inadequate growth (6-month ΔWAZ ≤ -0.5), independent of treatment strategy. RESULTS: The study cohort included 143 primary repair subjects and 240 staged repair subjects. Prematurity was more common in the staged repair group. After adjustment, median ΔWAZ did not differ between treatment groups over the first 6 months of life (primary: -0.43 [IQR, -1.17 to 0.50]; staged: -0.31 [IQR, -1.31 to 0.71]; P = .55). For the entire cohort, ΔWAZ was negative (-0.36; IQR, -1.21 to 0.63). There were no between-group differences in the secondary outcomes. Secondary analysis revealed that the subjects with adequate growth were more likely to be orally fed at initial hospital discharge (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: In neonates with sTOF, growth trajectory over the first 6 months of life was substandard, irrespective of treatment strategy. Those patients with adequate growth were more likely to be discharged from the index procedure on oral feeds.

Simultaneous Measurement of Proton and Lepton Kinematics in Quasielasticlike ν_{µ}-Hydrocarbon Interactions from 2 to 20 GeV.

Neutrino charged-current quasielastic-like scattering, a reaction category extensively used in neutrino oscillation measurements, probes nuclear effects that govern neutrino-nucleus interactions. This Letter reports the first measurement of the triple-differential cross section for ν_{µ} quasielastic-like reactions using the hydrocarbon medium of the MINERvA detector exposed to a wideband beam spanning 2≤E_{ν}≤20 GeV. The measurement maps the correlations among transverse and longitudinal muon momenta and summed proton kinetic energies, and compares them to predictions from a state-of-art simulation. Discrepancies are observed that likely reflect shortfalls with modeling of pion and nucleon intranuclear scattering and/or spectator nucleon ejection from struck nuclei. The separate determination of leptonic and hadronic variables can inform experimental approaches to neutrino-energy estimation.

Short- and medium-term outcomes for patent ductus arteriosus stenting in neonates ≤2.5 kg with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity with surgical systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunting (SPS) in infants ≤2.5 kg has remained high. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting may be a valid alternative. The objective of this study is to evaluate outcomes following PDA stenting in patients ≤2.5 kg from four large tertiary centers. METHODS: Retrospective review of all neonates ≤2.5 kg with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation who underwent PDA stenting. Procedural details, pulmonary arterial growth, reinterventions, surgery type, and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: PDA stents were implanted in 37 of 38 patients attempted (18 female) at a median procedural weight of 2.2 kg (interquartile range [IQR], 2-2.4 kg). Seven patients (18%) had a genetic abnormality and 16 (42%) had associated comorbidities. The median intensive care unit stay was 4 days (IQR, 2-6.75 days), and the median hospital stay was 20 days (IQR, 16-57.25). One patient required a rescue shunt procedure, with three others requiring early SPS (<30 days postprocedure). Twenty patients (54%) required reintervention with either balloon angioplasty, restenting, or both. At 6-month follow-up, right pulmonary artery growth (median z-score -1.16 to 0.01, p = 0.05) was greater than the left pulmonary artery (median z-score -0.9 to -0.64, p = 0.35). Serious adverse effects (SAEs) were seen in 18% (N = 7) of our cohort. One patient developed an SAE during planned reintervention There were no intraprocedural deaths, with one early procedure-related mortality, and three interstage mortalities not directly related to PDA stenting. CONCLUSIONS: PDA stenting in infants ≤2.5 kg is feasible and effective, promoting pulmonary artery growth. Reintervention rates are relatively high, though many are planned to allow for optimal growth before a definitive operation.

Stenting of ductus venosus as a palliation for portal hypertension because of neonatal cirrhosis.

Portal hypertension because of liver cirrhosis is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Treatment options in these patients include liver transplant, symptomatic treatment of oesophageal varices via endoscopic treatment and symptomatic management of ascites. Portosystemic shunt creation can be challenging in newborns and infants. We present a newborn with Trisomy 21, severe portal hypertension secondary to neonatal cirrhosis, oesophageal varices and upper GI bleeding, severe ascites refractory to medical management who underwent ductus venosus stenting as a palliative procedure. He demonstrated remarkable clinical improvement with no subsequent upper GI bleed and resolution of ascites till his last follow-up at 12 months of age. To the best of our knowledge, stenting of the patent ductus venosus to create a portosystemic shunt to relieve portal hypertension has not been reported in English literature.

Transcatheter Approaches to Palliation for Tetralogy of Fallot.

To this day, controversy still exists regarding the optimal method to treat symptomatic neonates and infants with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Symptomatic (severely cyanotic or ductal dependent) infants with TOF can undergo either a staged repair approach (consisting of initial palliation followed by complete repair) or primary repair. Traditionally, initial palliative procedures have been surgical, for example placement of a Blalock-Taussig-Thomas (BTT) shunt. Recent advances in technology have facilitated the introduction of catheter-based procedures as palliative techniques, for example, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenting as more durable solutions than balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV). In this article, we discuss the rationale for these procedures, technical aspects of these procedures and outcomes data compared to traditional surgical procedures. Recent data have suggested that RVOT and PDA stenting procedures offer many advantages over traditional surgical palliative procedures as palliative methods in this patient population. This comes at a cost of increased reintervention burden, which may be considered part of the overall treatment strategy in smaller neonates and can be minimized with a focus on technical aspects and overall treatment strategies. Advanced surgical techniques are required at the eventual complete repair to negotiate removal of stent material and pulmonary artery reconstruction in some instances. Further adoption of catheter based palliative procedures for infants with symptomatic TOF has the potential to tip the outcomes towards favoring a staged approach, particularly in high-risk infants.

Percutaneous Common Carotid Artery Access for Cardiac Interventions in Infants Does Not Acutely Change Cerebral Perfusion.

Pediatric cardiac interventions via percutaneous common carotid artery (CCA) access have been shown to be safe and effective. However, the impact of placement of a sheath in the carotid artery for interventions on cerebral perfusion is unknown. In this study we used cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to analyze the effects of percutaneous CCA access for cardiac interventions on cerebral perfusion. This study is a retrospective chart review carried out at a tertiary care center on all pediatric patients who underwent percutaneous cardiac catheterization via carotid artery access from January 2010 to January 2020. All patients who had ipsilateral NIRS recorded on the side of carotid artery access were included. Patients with only partial or no ipsilateral NIRS data were excluded. The primary outcome measure was the change in NIRS upon CCA access; the mean NIRS for 15 min before obtaining access was compared to the mean NIRS during the procedure and to the mean NIRS 15 min after removal of the CCA sheath. We hypothesized that there would be a significant drop in NIRS values on the side of CCA access. There were 48 catheterizations in the study period where percutaneous CCA was accessed. Of those, 21 catheterizations had complete data and were included in the study. 13 (62%) were of males. The median age was 23 days (IQR 7-79). The indications for CCA access were patent ductus arteriosus stent implantation (n = 13; 62%), aortic valvuloplasty (n = 5; 24%), balloon angioplasty of coarctation of aorta (n = 2; 10%), and renal artery angioplasty (n = 1; 4%). In 16 patients (72%), the left common carotid artery was accessed. The median weight of the patients was 3.3 kg (IQR 2.8-2.9). The most common sheath size used was 4F, in 16 patients (72%). The mean NIRS prior to the procedure was 67 ± 15%, during the procedure was 68 ± 20%, and after removal of sheath was 68 ± 21%. Paired t test of cerebral NIRS before, during, and after the procedure showed no significant change with CCA access (P = 0.08). No patient in the series had a documented neurologic deficit following the procedure. Percutaneous CCA access was not associated with a decrease in NIRS on the side of the access during the procedure, suggesting there was no significant acute change in cerebral perfusion with CCA access.