Echocardiographic findings in non-hospitalised children and adolescents following acute COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Although COVID-19 is known to have cardiac effects in children, seen primarily in severe disease, more information is needed about the cardiac effects following COVID-19 in non-hospitalised children and adolescents during recovery. This study aims to compare echocardiographic markers of cardiac size and function of children following acute COVID-19 with those of healthy controls. METHODS: This single-centre retrospective case-control study compared 71 cases seen in cardiology clinic following acute COVID-19 with 33 healthy controls. Apical left ventricle, apical right ventricle, and parasternal short axis at the level of the papillary muscles were analysed to measure ventricular size and systolic function. Strain was analysed on vendor-independent software. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test, chi-square, Wilcoxon rank sum, and regression modelling as appropriate (p < 0.05 significant). RESULTS: Compared to controls, COVID-19 cases had slightly higher left ventricular volumes and lower left ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular fractional area change that remained within normal range. There were no differences in right or left ventricular longitudinal strain between the two groups. Neither initial severity nor persistence of symptoms after diagnosis predicted these differences. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiographic findings in children and adolescents 6 weeks to 3 months following acute COVID-19 not requiring hospitalisation were overall reassuring. Compared to healthy controls, the COVID-19 group demonstrated mildly larger left ventricular size and lower conventional measures of biventricular systolic function that remained within the normal range, with no differences in biventricular longitudinal strain. Future studies focusing on longitudinal echocardiographic assessment of patients following acute COVID-19 are needed to better understand these subtle differences in ventricular size and function.

Electrocardiographic changes in non-hospitalised children with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: Many children diagnosed with COVID-19 infections did not require hospitalisation. Our objective was to analyse electrocardiographic changes in children with asymptomatic, mild or moderate COVID-19 who did not require hospitalisation. METHODS: All children are seen in a paediatric cardiology clinic who had asymptomatic, mild or moderate COVID-19 that did not require hospitalisation and had at least one electrocardiogram after their diagnosis were included in this retrospective analysis. Records were reviewed to determine COVID-19 disease severity and presence of Long COVID. Rhythm assessment, atrial enlargement, ventricular hypertrophy, PR/QRS/QT interval duration and ST-T wave abnormalities were analysed by a paediatric electrophysiologist. Clinically ordered echocardiograms were reviewed for signs of myopericarditis (left ventricular ejection fraction and pericardial effusion) on any subject with an electrocardiographic abnormality. RESULTS: Of the 82 children meeting inclusion criteria (14.4 years, range 1-18 years, 57% male), 17 patients (21%) demonstrated electrocardiographic changes. Ten patients (12%) had electrocardiogram of borderline significance, which included isolated mild PR prolongation or mild repolarisation abnormalities. The other seven patients (9%) had concerning electrocardiographic findings consisting of more significant repolarisation abnormalities. None of the patients with an abnormal electrocardiogram revealed any echocardiographic abnormality. All abnormal electrocardiograms normalised over time except in two cases. Across the entire cohort, greater COVID-19 disease severity and long COVID were not associated with electrocardiographic abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Electrocardiographic abnormalities are present in a minority of children with an asymptomatic, mild or moderate COVID-19 infection. Many of these changes resolved over time and no evidence of myopericarditis was present on echocardiography.

Post-pericardiotomy syndrome in pediatric patients following surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defects: incidence and risk factors.

Surgical repair for atrial septal defects (ASD) generally occurs during childhood. Post-pericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) after cardiac surgery has a reported incidence of 1-40 %. We focused exclusively on secundum ASD repair to evaluate the incidence of PPS. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of PPS after surgical repair of secundum ASD and investigate what risk factors may be predictive of its development. A retrospective study was performed, and 97 patients who underwent surgical closure of a secundum ASD were identified. 27 (28 %) were diagnosed with PPS within the first postoperative year. Diagnosis was made if they had evidence of new or worsening pericardial effusion and the presence of ≥2 of the following criteria: fever >72 h postoperatively, irritability, pleuritic chest pain, or pericardial friction rub. Closure of secundum ASDs was performed at a median age of 3.8 years (Interquartile Range (IQR): 2.2-6.0 years) and a median weight of 14.3 kilograms (IQR: 10.9-19.3 kilograms). The median time for development of PPS was 8 days post-op (IQR: 5-14). Significantly, 19 (27 %) of 70 patients in the non-PPS group had a small pericardial effusion on their discharge echocardiogram, while of the 27 patients who developed PPS, 17 (63 %) had a small pericardial effusion on their discharge echocardiogram (p = 0.001). PPS is relatively common following surgical closure of secundum ASDs. A small pericardial effusion on discharge echocardiogram is predictive of development of PPS postoperatively. In patients who develop PPS, there is a good response to therapy with a benign course.

Pulmonary vein stenosis and necrotising enterocolitis: is there a possible link with necrotising enterocolitis?

OBJECTIVES: While acquired pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is an often lethal anomaly with poor long-term prognosis and high mortality, little is known about the causes of this disease process. The purpose of this study was to describe the possible association between acquired PVS and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective review of all premature infants (<37 weeks' gestation) diagnosed with acquired PVS in our institution. Babies with congenital heart disease with known association with PVS were excluded. The hospital records were reviewed for prior history of NEC, as defined by Bell's staging criteria. We also reviewed serial echocardiograms performed during their hospitalisation. Outcomes assessed were worsening or resolution of the PVS and death. RESULTS: Twenty patients met inclusion criteria and were diagnosed with acquired PVS. The median gestational age was 27 weeks. 50% (10/20) of the infants had NEC during their hospital course. The NEC group had significantly lower birth weights in comparison to the non-NEC group. There was no difference between groups with regards to the age at diagnosis of PVS. The mean gradient across the pulmonary veins was higher in the NEC group, as was mortality. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be a high incidence of NEC in premature infants who are diagnosed with acquired PVS. Future large controlled studies are needed to further analyse this association and to evaluate the possible role of abdominal inflammation in the development of PVS in premature infants.