Acquired cardiovascular disease in adults with congenital heart disease.

Rates of successful surgical repair and life expectancy for patients with congenital heart disease have increased dramatically in recent decades. Thanks to advances in diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care, an ever-increasing number of individuals with congenital heart disease are reaching advanced age. The exposure to cardiovascular risk factors during their lifetime is modifying the outlook and late clinical trajectory of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). Their disease burden is shifting from congenital to acquired, primarily atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) with worrisome consequences. In addition, the complex background of ACHD often curbs appropriate preventive strategies by general practitioners or adult cardiologists. Comprehensive guidance for the prevention and management of acquired heart disease in ACHD patients is currently not available, as this topic has not been covered by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention or the ESC guidelines for the management of ACHD. In this document, a state-of-the-art overview of acquired heart disease in ACHD patients and guidance on ASCVD prevention for both ACHD specialists and non-ACHD cardiologists are provided. The aim is to provide a clinical consensus statement to foster the development of a sustainable strategy for the prevention of ASCVD in a practical and simple-to-follow way in this ever-growing cardiovascular cohort, thus reducing their cardiovascular burden.

Epidemiology and Definition of Heart Failure in Adult Congenital Heart Disease.

Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are facing lifelong complications, notably heart failure (HF). This review focuses on classifications, incidence, prevalence, and mortality of HF related to ACHD. Diagnosing HF in ACHD is intricate due to anatomic variations, necessitating comprehensive clinical evaluations. Hospitalizations and resource consumption for ACHD HF have significantly risen compared with non-ACHD HF patients. With more than 30% prevalence in complex cases, HF has become the leading cause of death in ACHD. These alarming trends underscore the insufficient understanding of ACHD-related HF manifestations and management challenges within the context of aging, complexity, and comorbidity.

[Cardiology: what's new in 2023]. / Cardiologie: ce qui a changé en 2023.

The year 2023 has been extremely rich in new publications in the various subfields of cardiology. Furthermore, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has issued revised guidelines focused on the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and endocarditis, as well as an update on the recommendations for the management of heart failure and cardiovascular prevention. The most significant updates according to the Cardiology Department of CHUV are summarized in this review article.

L'année 2023 a été extrêmement riche en nouvelles publications dans les différents sous-domaines de la cardiologie. De plus, la Société européenne de cardiologie (ESC) a formulé des directives révisées axées sur le management du syndrome coronarien aigu (SCA) et de l'endocardite ainsi qu'une mise à jour des recommandations sur la prise en charge de l'insuffisance cardiaque et la prévention cardiovasculaire. Les nouveautés les plus importantes selon l'équipe du Service de cardiologie du CHUV sont résumées dans cet article de synthèse.

Discordance between 2D and 4D flow in the assessment of pulmonary regurgitation severity: a right ventricular remodeling follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary regurgitation (PR) is common in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). 2D phase contrast MRI is the reference method for the quantification of PR and helps in the decision of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR). 4D flow MRI can be an alternative method to estimate PR but more validation is still needed. Our purpose was to compare 2D and 4D flow in PR quantification using the degree of right ventricular remodeling after PVR as the reference standard. METHODS: In 30 adult patients with a pulmonary valve disease recruited between 2015 and 2018, PR was assessed using both 2D and 4D flow. Based on the clinical standard of care, 22 underwent PVR. The pre PVR estimate of PR was compared using the post-operative decrease in right ventricle end-diastolic volume on follow-up exam as reference. RESULTS: In the overall cohort, regurgitant volume (Rvol) and regurgitant fraction (RF) of PR measured by 2D and 4D flow were well correlated but with moderate agreement in the overall cohort (r = 0.90, mean diff. -14 ± 12.5 mL; and r = 0.72, mean diff. -15 ± 13%; all p < 0.0001). Correlations between Rvol estimates and right ventricle end-diastolic volume decrease after PVR was higher with 4D flow (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001) than with 2D flow (r = 0.72, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In ACHD, PR quantification from 4D flow better predicts post-PVR right ventricle remodeling than that from 2D flow. Further studies are needed to evaluate the added value of this 4D flow quantification for guiding replacement decision. KEY POINTS: • Using 4D flow MRI allows a better quantification of pulmonary regurgitation in adult congenital heart disease than 2D flow when taking right ventricle remodeling after pulmonary valve replacement as a reference. • A plane positioned perpendicular to the ejected flow volume as allowed by 4D flow provides better results to estimate pulmonary regurgitation.

Catheter ablation of atrial tachyarrhythmias in patients with atrioventricular septal defect.

AIMS: The incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias is high in patients with atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD). No specific data on catheter ablation have been reported so far in this population. We aimed to describe the main mechanisms of atrial tachyarrhythmias in patients with AVSD and to analyse outcomes after catheter ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: This observational multi-centric cohort study enrolled all patients with AVSD referred for catheter ablation of an atrial tachyarrhythmia at six tertiary centres from 2004 to 2022. The mechanisms of the different tachyarrhythmias targeted were described and outcomes were analysed. Overall, 56 patients (38.1 ± 17.4 years, 55.4% females) were included. A total of 87 atrial tachyarrhythmias were targeted (mean number of 1.6 per patient). Regarding main circuits involved, a cavo-annular isthmus-dependent intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia (IART) was observed in 41 (73.2%) patients and an IART involving the right lateral atriotomy in 10 (17.9%) patients. Other tachyarrhythmias with heterogeneous circuits were observed in 13 (23.2%) patients including 11 left-sided and 4 right-sided tachyarrhythmias. Overall, an acute success was achieved in 54 (96.4%) patients, and no complication was reported. During a mean follow-up of 2.8 ± 3.8 years, 22 (39.3%) patients had at least one recurrence. Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrences was 77.5% at 1 year. Among 15 (26.8%) patients who underwent repeated ablation procedures, heterogeneous circuits including bi-atrial and left-sided tachyarrhythmias were more frequent. CONCLUSION: In patients with AVSD, most circuits involve the cavo-annular isthmus, but complex mechanisms are frequently encountered in patients with repeated procedures. The acute success rate is excellent, although recurrences remain common during follow-up.

A new score for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in adults with transposition of the great arteries and a systemic right ventricle.

AIMS: To investigate the incidence of major adverse ventricular arrhythmias and related events (MAREs) and to develop a stratification tool predicting MAREs in adults with a systemic right ventricle (sRV). METHODS AND RESULTS: In a multicentre approach, all adults (≥16 years old) with a sRV undergoing follow-up between 2000 and 2018 were identified. The incidence of MAREs, defined as sudden cardiac death, sustained ventricular tachycardia, and appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy, was analysed. The association of MAREs with clinical, electrical, and echocardiographic parameters was evaluated. A total of 1184 patients (median age 27.1 years; interquartile range 19.9-34.9 years; 59% male; 70% with atrial switch repair for D-transposition of the great arteries) were included. The incidence of MAREs was 6.3 per 1000 patient-years. On multivariate analysis, age, history of heart failure, syncope, QRS duration, severe sRV dysfunction and at least moderate left ventricular outflow tract obstruction were retained in the final model with a C-index of 0.78 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-0.83] and a calibration slope of 0.93 (95% CI 0.64-1.21). For every five ICDs implanted in patients with a 5-year MARE risk >10%, one patient may potentially be spared from a MARE. CONCLUSION: Sudden cardiac death remains a devastating cause of death in a contemporary adult cohort with a sRV. A prediction model based on clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic parameters was devised to estimate MARE risk and to identify high-risk patients who may benefit from primary prevention ICD implantation.

Sudden cardiac death in congenital heart disease.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for up to 25% of deaths in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). To date, research has largely been driven by observational studies and real-world experience. Drawbacks include varying definitions, incomplete taxonomy that considers SCD as a unitary diagnosis as opposed to a terminal event with diverse causes, inconsistent outcome ascertainment, and limited data granularity. Notwithstanding these constraints, identified higher-risk substrates include tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, cyanotic heart disease, Ebstein anomaly, and Fontan circulation. Without autopsies, it is often impossible to distinguish SCD from non-cardiac sudden deaths. Asystole and pulseless electrical activity account for a high proportion of SCDs, particularly in patients with heart failure. High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation is essential to improve outcomes. Pulmonary hypertension and CHD complexity are associated with lower likelihood of successful resuscitation. Risk stratification for primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) should consider the probability of SCD due to a shockable rhythm, competing causes of mortality, complications of ICD therapy, and associated costs. Risk scores to better estimate probabilities of SCD and CHD-specific guidelines and consensus-based recommendations have been proposed. The subcutaneous ICD has emerged as an attractive alternative to transvenous systems in those with vascular access limitations, prior device infections, intra-cardiac shunts, or a Fontan circulation. Further improving SCD-related outcomes will require a multidimensional approach to research that addresses disease processes and triggers, taxonomy to better reflect underlying pathophysiology, high-risk features, early warning signs, access to high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation and specialized care, and preventive therapies tailored to underlying mechanisms.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients With Tetralogy of Fallot and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: The DAI-T4F Nationwide Registry.

BACKGROUND: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease, and sudden cardiac death represents an important mode of death in these patients. Data evaluating the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in this patient population remain scarce. METHODS: A Nationwide French Registry including all patients with tetralogy of Fallot with an ICD was initiated in 2010 by the French Institute of Health and Medical Research. The primary time to event end point was the time from ICD implantation to first appropriate ICD therapy. Secondary outcomes included ICD-related complications, heart transplantation, and death. Clinical events were centrally adjudicated by a blinded committee. RESULTS: A total of 165 patients (mean age, 42.2±13.3 years, 70.1% males) were included from 40 centers, including 104 (63.0%) in secondary prevention. During a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 6.8 (2.5-11.4) years, 78 (47.3%) patients received at least 1 appropriate ICD therapy. The annual incidence of the primary outcome was 10.5% (7.1% and 12.5% in primary and secondary prevention, respectively; P=0.03). Overall, 71 (43.0%) patients presented with at least 1 ICD complication, including inappropriate shocks in 42 (25.5%) patients and lead dysfunction in 36 (21.8%) patients. Among 61 (37.0%) patients in primary prevention, the annual rate of appropriate ICD therapies was 4.1%, 5.3%, 9.5%, and 13.3% in patients with, respectively, 0, 1, 2, or ≥3 guidelines-recommended risk factors. QRS fragmentation was the only independent predictor of appropriate ICD therapies (hazard ratio, 3.47 [95% CI, 1.19-10.11]), and its integration in a model with current criteria increased the 5-year time-dependent area under the curve from 0.68 to 0.81 (P=0.006). Patients with congestive heart failure or reduced left ventricular ejection fraction had a higher risk of nonarrhythmic death or heart transplantation (hazard ratio, 11.01 [95% CI, 2.96-40.95]). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with tetralogy of Fallot and an ICD experience high rates of appropriate therapies, including those implanted in primary prevention. The considerable long-term burden of ICD-related complications, however, underlines the need for careful candidate selection. A combination of easy-to-use criteria including QRS fragmentation might improve risk stratification. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03837574.

Cardiovascular events in perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left ventricular volume overload: a French prospective cohort study (FRANCISCO).

The long-term prospective multi-centre nationwide (French) observational study FRANCISCO will provide new information on perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left ventricular overload but no pulmonary hypertension in children older than 1 year. Outcomes will be compared according to treatment strategy (watchful waiting, surgical closure, or percutaneous closure) and anatomic features of the defect. The results are expected to provide additional guidance about the optimal treatment of this specific population, which is unclear at present. BACKGROUND: The management of paediatric isolated perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) with left ventricle (LV) volume overload but no pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains controversial. Three therapeutic approaches are considered: watchful waiting, surgical closure, and percutaneous closure. We aim to investigate the long-term outcomes of these patients according to anatomic pmVSD characteristics and treatment strategy. METHODS: The Filiale de Cardiologie Pediatrique et Congénitale (FCPC) designed the FRANCISCO registry, a long-term prospective nationwide multi-centre observational cohort study sponsored by the French Society of Cardiology, which enrolled, over 2 years (2018­2020), patients older than 1 year who had isolated pmVSD with LV volume overload. Prevalent complications related to pmVSD at baseline were exclusion criteria. Clinical, echocardiographic, and functional data will be collected at inclusion then after 1, 5, and 10 years. A core lab will analyse all baseline echocardiographic data to depict anatomical pmVSD features. The primary outcome is the 5-year incidence of cardiovascular events (infective endocarditis, sub-aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, right ventricular outflow tract stenosis, tricuspid regurgitation, PAH, arrhythmia, stroke, haemolysis, heart failure, or death from a cardiovascular event). We plan to enrol 200 patients, given the 10% estimated 5-year incidence of cardiovascular events with a 95% confidence interval of ±5%. Associations linking anatomical pmVSD features and treatment strategy to the incidence of complications will be assessed. CONCLUSIONS: The FRANSCICO study will provide the long-term incidence of complications in patients older than 1 year with pmVSD and LV volume overload. The results are expected to improve guidance for treatment decisions.

Transbaffle/transconduit puncture using a simple CARTO-guided approach without echocardiography in patients with congenital heart disease.

INTRODUCTION: Catheter ablation (CA) of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) in patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) often requires technically challenging transbaffle or transconduit puncture. The aim was to assess the feasibility and safety of transbaffle/transconduit puncture based on computed tomography (CT) three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction merged with electro-anatomical mapping (EAM) without per-procedure echocardiographic guidance. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 18 consecutive CHD patients in two centers who had atrial-switch or Fontan surgery and underwent CA of AT by an antegrade approach requiring intracardiac puncture. Twelve patients with atrial-switch surgery and six patients with extracardiac Fontan surgery were referred for CA of AT. Cardiac CT with 3D reconstruction was performed before the procedure. The 3D volume of the systemic venous atrium or extracardiac conduit acquired by EAM was merged with the corresponding CT 3D reconstruction. The ablation catheter was positioned at the optimal puncture site. Under fluoroscopic guidance, the needle was positioned next to the ablation and the puncture was performed. Balloon expansion of the puncture site was performed in every case of transconduit puncture and in two (17%) cases of transbaffle puncture. Overall, 17 intra-atrial reentrant tachycarrythmias and 9 focal ATs were successfully ablated, with no acute complications. The median time to access the pulmonary atrium was 78.5 minutes (range, 55-185) and total median fluoroscopy time was 23 minutes (range, 7-53). CONCLUSIONS: Transbaffle and transconduit punctures can be performed safely in CHD patients by using a simple technique relying on CT 3D reconstruction and EAM.

Neopulmonary Outflow Tract Obstruction Assessment by 4D Flow MRI in Adults With Transposition of the Great Arteries After Arterial Switch Operation.

BACKGROUND: The main complication in adult patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) treated by an arterial switch operation (ASO) is neopulmonary outflow tract stenosis (NPOTS). However, pulmonary flow velocity measurements cannot always be performed with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) due to complex anatomical features. 4D flow MRI allows detection, quantification, and location of the obstruction site along the NPOTS. PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS: To investigate the accuracy of 4D flow for the diagnosis of NPOTS in adults with TGA corrected by ASO. STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: Thirty-three adult patients with TGA treated by ASO (19 men, mean age 25.5 years old). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: Accelerated 4D flow research sequence at 3T. ASSESSMENT: Maximum NPOTS velocities on TTE and 4D flow MRI done the same day. STATISTICAL TESTS: Pearson correlation coefficient, paired t-test, and Bland-Altman analysis were used to investigate the relationship between TTE and MRI data. RESULTS: In 16 patients (48.5%), evaluation of NPOTS anatomy was not obtained by TTE, while it was always possible by 4D flow. Peak flow velocity (PV) measurements in Doppler and 4D flow were highly correlated (r = 0.78; P < 0.001). PV >350 cm.s-1 was detected in only one patient (3%) by TTE vs. five patients (15%) by 4D flow. Moreover, a high correlation was found between PV and the right ventricle (RV) mass index to body surface area when using 4D flow (r = 0.63; P < 0.001). The location of NPOTS was determined in all patients using 4D flow and concerned the main pulmonary artery in 42%. DATA CONCLUSION: Compared to TTE, 4D flow MRI provides better sensitivity to detect and locate NPOTS in patients with TGA treated by ASO. 4D flow PV measurements in NPOTS were well correlated with TTE PV and RV mass. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1699-1705.

Temporal trends and changing profile of adults with congenital heart disease undergoing heart transplantation.

AIMS: To investigate the temporal trends in profile and outcomes of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) undergoing heart transplantation (HT). METHODS AND RESULTS: Out of a multi-institutional series of 2257 HT from 1988 to 2012, 100 HT were performed in 97 ACHD. We evaluated clinical characteristics, underlying defect, surgical history, perioperative issues, and outcomes. We compared two eras: era 1 (1988-2005, n = 48) and era 2 (2006-2012, n = 49). Mean age at HT was 30.3 ± 10.5 years. Twenty-five patients (25.8%) had biventricular physiology with a systemic right ventricle and 43 patients (44%) had univentricular physiology. Adults with congenital heart disease severity were classified as great complexity (74.2%), moderate (21.7%), and simple (4.1%). During a median follow-up of 28.7 months [0-282], 44 patients died. Early mortality was high (34%; 95% CI 0.2536-0.4390). Survival was 63.9% at 1 year. The proportion of univentricular patients did not change. Biventricular patients with systemic right ventricle significantly increased in era 2 (16.7  vs. 34.7%, P = 0.04) due to increasing number of transposition of the great arteries with atrial switch. Although the proportion of great complexity ACHD did not change significantly in era 2 (81.6%  vs. and 66.7% in era 1, P = 0.09), ACHD recipients have more advanced disease, being more likely hospitalized (P = 0.03), receiving intravenous inotropes (P = 0.01), under assist devices (P = 0.04), or UNOS status 1 (P = 0.02) at the time of HT. Survival rates were comparable. CONCLUSION: Despite a worse risk profile, mortality after HT in ACHD did not increase. Improving survival of complex CHD will probably amplify the proportion of complex ACHD recipients with more advanced disease.

Neonatal management and outcomes of prenatally diagnosed CHDs.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the probability of intervention at birth after prenatal diagnosis of CHD. METHODS: A 10-year retrospective study including all foetuses with a prenatally diagnosed CHD and those delivered in a tertiary-care cardiac centre between January, 2002 and December, 2011 was carried out. Patients were classified into eight groups according to the anticipated risk of neonatal intervention. RESULTS: The need for urgent intervention and/or PGE1 infusion within the first 48 hours of life was 47% (n=507/1080): 72% (n=248) for CHD at risk for a Rashkind procedure, 77% (n=72) for CHD with ductal-dependent pulmonary flow, 13% (n=22) for CHD with potentially ductal-dependent pulmonary flow, 94% (n=62) for CHD with ductal-dependent systemic flow, 29% (n=88) for CHD with potentially ductal-dependant systemic flow, 50% (n=4) for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, and 17% (n=1) for CHD with atrio-ventricular block. In all, 34% of the patients received PGE1 infusion and 21.4% underwent urgent catheter-based or surgical interventions; 10% of patients without anticipated risk (n=10) underwent an early intervention; 6.7% (n=73) of the patients died; and 55% (n=589) had an intervention before discharge from hospital. CONCLUSION: Half of the neonates with foetal CHD benefited from an urgent intervention or PGE1 infusion at birth. We recommend scheduled delivery and in utero transfer for transposition of the great arteries, double-outlet right ventricle with sub-pulmonary ventricular septal defect, total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, CHD with atrio-ventricular block with heart rate <50, all ductal-dependant lesions, and CHD with potentially ductal-dependant systemic flow.

Genetic analyses in a cohort of children with pulmonary hypertension.

The prevalence of germline mutations in paediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) is poorly documented. The objective of this study was to determine the mutation frequency in PH genes in a paediatric cohort and describe the clinical characteristics of mutation carriers.The study involved 66 index cases with PH: 35 children with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH); five children with familial PAH (FPAH); three children with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD); and 23 children with PAH associated with congenital heart disease (APAH-CHD).No mutations were found in the 23 children with APAH-CHD. In the 40 children with IPAH or FPAH, 12 mutations were found: five on BMPR2; four on ACVRL1; and three on TBX4. In the three PVOD cases, two carried the EIF2AK4 mutation. Mutation carriers had a more severe disease at diagnosis and more aggressive first-line therapy was required. The three patients with PVOD had a very severe disease at diagnosis and required a lung transplantation.The genetic architecture of paediatric PAH is enriched in ACVRL1 and TBX4 mutations compared to adult PAH, but further studies are required to confirm these results. Childhood-onset PAH in children carrying a mutation in one of the genes tested has a more severe presentation at diagnosis but a similar outcome to that observed in non-carriers.

Usefulness of maximal oxygen pulse in timing of pulmonary valve replacement in patients with isolated pulmonary regurgitation.

Patients with pulmonary regurgitation after tetralogy of Fallot repair have impaired aerobic capacity; one of the reasons is the decreasing global ventricular performance at exercise, reflected by decreasing peak oxygen pulse. The aims of our study were to evaluate the impact of pulmonary valve replacement on peak oxygen pulse in a population with pure pulmonary regurgitation and with different degrees of right ventricular dilatation and to determine the predictors of peak oxygen pulse after pulmonary valve replacement. The mean and median age at pulmonary valve replacement was 27 years. Mean pre-procedural right ventricular end-diastolic volume was 182 ml/m2. Out of 24 patients, 15 had abnormal peak oxygen pulse before pulmonary valve replacement. We did not observe a significant increase in peak oxygen pulse after pulmonary valve replacement (p=0.76). Among cardiopulmonary test/MRI/historical pre-procedural parameters, peak oxygen pulse appeared to be the best predictor of peak oxygen pulse after pulmonary valve replacement (positive and negative predictive values, respectively, 0.94 and 1). After pulmonary valve replacement, peak oxygen pulse was well correlated with left ventricular stroke and end-diastolic volumes (r=0.67 and 0.68, respectively). Our study confirms the absence of an effect of pulmonary valve replacement on peak oxygen pulse whatever the initial right ventricular volume, reflecting possible irreversible right and/or left ventricle lesions. Pre-procedural peak oxygen pulse seemed to well predict post-procedural peak oxygen pulse. These results encourage discussions on pulmonary valve replacement in patients showing any decrease in peak oxygen pulse during their follow-up.

Age-specific changes in left ventricular diastolic function: a velocity-encoded magnetic resonance imaging study.

OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to assess the ability of phasecontrast MRI (PC-MRI) to detect sub-clinical age-related variations of left ventricular (LV) diastolic parameters and thus to provide age-related reference ranges currently available for echocardiography but not for MRI-PC, and to identify independent associates of such variations. METHODS: We studied 100 healthy volunteers (age = 42 ± 15years, 50 females) who had MRI with simultaneous blood pressure measurements. LV mass and volumes were assessed. Semiautomated analysis of PC-MRI data provided: 1) early transmitral (Ef) and atrial (Af) peak filling flow-rates (ml/s) and filling volume (FV), 2) deceleration time (DT), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), and 3) early myocardial longitudinal (E') peak velocity. RESULTS: MRI-PC diastolic parameters were reproducible as reflected by low coefficients of variations (ranged between 0.31 to 6.26 %). Peak myocardial velocity E' (r = -0.63, p < 0.0001) and flow-rate parameters were strongly and independently associated to age (Ef/Af:r = -0.63, DT:r = 0.46, IVRT:r = 0.44, Ef/FV:r = -0.55, Af/FV:r = 0.56, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, LV relaxation parameters (E', DT, IVRT), were independently associated to LV remodelling (LV mass/end-diastolic volume) and myocardial wall thickness (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PC-MRI age-related reference ranges of diastolic parameters are provided. Such parameters might be useful for a fast, reproducible and reliable characterization of diastolic function in patients referred for clinical MRI exam KEY POINTS: • MRI age-related reference values of left ventricular diastolic parameters are provided. • MRI diastolic parameters can characterise sub-clinical age-related variations in healthy individuals. • Diastolic function would complement cardiac MRI exam with currently neglected data. • Diastolic function would enhance MRI diagnostic value in cardiomyopathy and heartfailure.

Closure of Fontan fenestration with the use of covered stents: short- and mid-term results in a cohort of 50 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The use of covered stents to close fenestration in total cavopulmonary connection is presented. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data of all patients undergoing the procedure of a covered stent to close fenestration of total cavopulmonary connection between 2005 and 2012. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients met the inclusion criteria. Median age and weight were 7.7 years and 20 kg, respectively. Median interval between Fontan completion and fenestration closure was 13 months. The femoral vein was used in 42 patients and the jugular vein in eight patients. Of the patients, seven received two stents. Covered stents were CP stents in 42 patients and Atrium Advanta V12 in eight patients. BIB balloons were used in 24 patients and simple balloons in 18 patients. Simultaneous occlusion of venous collaterals was observed in five patients. Median procedural and fluoroscopy times were 49 and 8 minutes, respectively. Mean central venous pressure rose from 10 to 12 mmHg. Mean oxygen saturation increased from 88% to 96%. Full occlusion was confirmed in 47 patients. The remaining had residual shunts: two patients had intracardiac Fontan, and one patient had a stent that could not be fully opened. Following the procedure, five patients had local bleeding, and three delayed discharge 48 hours after the procedure. There was no thromboembolic event after a mean follow-up of 49 months. CONCLUSION: Covered stent is a good option to close fenestration in extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection. It is safe, easily achievable with low fluoroscopy time, with very low risk of complication or failure. Good results are sustainable when excluding patients with none circular pathway.