TEACHING MUST GO ON: flexibility and advantages of peer assisted learning during the COVID-19 pandemic for undergraduate medical ultrasound education - perspective from the "sonoBYstudents" ultrasound group.

Background: Facing the global COVID-19 pandemic University teaching has been digitalized and German medical faculties took great effort to offer curricular contents online as they agreed that semesters during pandemic should not be suspended. Skill training is an essential part of medical education and cannot be fully digitalized nor should it be omitted. The pandemic demonstrates that skills like ultrasound are essential when treating critical ill patients. Medical faculties use peer assisted learning (PAL) concepts to teach skills, like ultrasound through specially trained student tutors. Aim: Here, we would like to share our experiences and elaborate how ultrasound teaching can be safely performed during the pandemic with an emphasis on adjustment of an existing PAL teaching concept. Method: At the hospital of Saarland University, we implemented a PAL teaching concept for abdominal, including emergency, ultrasound, and echocardiography, called "sonoBYstudents" to teach sonography to undergraduate medical students. Students are generally taught in small groups of 5 people in 90min sessions over a time of 8 weeks with an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) at the end of the course program. Each semester nearly 50 students are taught in abdominal and emergency ultrasound and 30 students in echocardiography. Over five years, more than 600 students have been taught with at least 30 students being trained as student tutors. Given the pandemic, course size, course interval and total course time and total course time were adapted to the hygienic precautions. Results: 45 and 30 students were taught in abdominal ultrasound and echocardiography respectively achieving their learning goals measured via OSCE at the end of the courses. OSCE results were the same when compared to previous semesters. Conclusion: PAL as a teaching concept lives out of sustained educational strategies like practical and didactical trainings and an ongoing recruitment of new student tutors. Suspending PAL and its skill teaching would require starting from the beginning which is a time and cost consuming process. With sonoBYstudents we were able to demonstrate that an existing PAL concept can, with some effort, be adjusted to changing teaching circumstances. Apart from this ultrasound is a non-omittable part of medical skill training with easily appliable hygienic precautions during teaching sessions.

Extreme tuning of wetting on 1D nanostructures: from a superhydrophilic to a perfect hydrophobic surface.

The tuning of wetting over an extreme range, from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic, was demonstrated on 1D Al/Al2O3 nanostructures. While chaotic and tangled 1D Al/Al2O3 nanostructures exhibited complete wetting, they became water repellent (with a water contact angle (CA) ≥173°) after the infiltration of poly[bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene] (PTFEP) solution. This simple strategy allows the achievement of two extreme wetting regimes, perfect wetting and non-wetting, without altering the nanostructured surface topography. The same surface was also found to exhibit repellency towards artificial blood and hexadecane.

Presentation of a Sedation Standard Using the Example of Transesophageal Echocardiographies (TEE) in Pediatric Outpatients.

Introduction Most pediatric patients require deep sedation for a TEE examination. We analyzed the data of our sedation protocols relating to all outpatient TEEs in patients under 18 years of age for the year 2011. On the basis of the data records of a total of 40 patients, we will describe our standard and compare it with the findings of the international literature. Material and Methods In a retrospective analysis, we inspected our sedation protocols in terms of patient-related data, vital parameters, drug applications, occurring complications and necessary interventions as well as nausea and vomiting during the post-sedative monitoring phase. Results In line with our standard, we applied atropine, midazolam, S-ketamine and propofol; complications occurred in 5 patients. They could be handled using simple measures. With regard to the vital parameters, no severe complications occurred. Dizziness was observed in 4 patients during the recovery phase; one patient complained about nausea and vomiting during the first fluid intake. All patients could be discharged 4 h after the termination of sedation. Conclusion Our standard is a practicable and safe procedure for preforming TEE examinations in pediatric outpatients.

Non-neurological, steroid-related adverse events in very low birth weight infants: a prospective audit.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY PURPOSE: To assess the incidence of cardiac and metabolic adverse events in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants receiving systematic steroids. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective single centre audit in VLBW infants (<1,500 g) at the neonatal intensive care unit at the University Children's Hospital of Saarland, Germany. RESULTS: A total of 72 VLBW infants (38 female) were included in this report (mean birth weight: 967 ± 338 g; range: 320-1490 g). Birth weight, gestational age and Apgar scores were significantly lower in the steroid group (p <0.01). Mortality rate was 8/72 (7/34 in the steroid treated vs nontreated 1/38; odds ratio [OR]: 9.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-82.6 p = 0.02). In 34/72 infants, steroids were given (22 hydrocortisone alone; 12 combination of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone). The most common indication for use of steroids was respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and respiratory insufficiency (30/34). Adverse events that occurred more often in the steroid group included hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (14/34 vs 0/38; p <0.001); thrombus formation (8/34 vs 1/38; OR: 11.4; 95% CI: 1.3-96.6; p <0.05), hyperglycaemia (27/34 vs 3/38; OR: 45.0; 95% CI: 10.6-190.4; p <0.01), hypernatraemia (15/34 vs 7/38; OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.2-10.1; p <0.05), and sepsis/infections (8/34 vs 1/38; OR: 11.4; 95% CI: 1.3-96.6; p <0.05). No significant differences were seen between hydrocortisone alone and the combination of hydrocortisone with dexamethasone. Birth weight and severity of RDS were predictors of steroid use (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The use of steroids was significantly associated with severe short-term adverse events - most importantly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and thrombus formation. These complications must be taken into consideration when administering steroids to VLBW infants.

The pulsed Doppler and tissue Doppler-derived septal E/e' ratio is significantly related to invasive measurement of ventricular end-diastolic pressure in biventricular rather than univentricular physiology in patients with congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVES: The value of conventional non-invasive Doppler parameters to predict ventricular end-diastolic pressure (EDP) and diastolic function in congenital heart diseases is limited. The aim of our prospective study was to investigate whether the ratio of mitral early blood inflow velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/e') as assessed by pulsed tissue Doppler is related to EDP in patients with different congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing left heart catheterization. METHODS: A total of 115 hospital inpatients (64 male) with different CHD referred for cardiac catheterization were simultaneously examined by echocardiography for non-invasive estimation of ventricular EDP during heart catheterization. The mean age at catheterization was 8.71 years (range 3 days to 18 years). These patients were divided into two groups according to the different hemodynamic and morphology conditions: group A consisted of patients with biventricular heart and group B of patients with univentricular heart. RESULTS: For all the studied patients, a significant positive correlation was found between E/e' and EDP (r = 0.54, P < 0.001). EDP correlated rather weakly with combined measurements E/global LV early diastolic velocity (r = 0.27, P = 0.02). A significant relationship was also found between ventricular EDP and early mitral inflow velocity E (r = 0.36, P = 0.001). The ratio of pulmonary venous flow velocities s/d was not found to be related to invasively measured EDP (r = -0.16, P = 0.13). Group A (n = 96) had similar results, but for group B (n = 19), these parameters did not show a relationship to EDP. The analysis of these parameters showed that the larger area under the curve (AUC) was found for the ratio of E/e' (AUC = 0.77) compared with E/global e' (AUC = 0.57). E/e' > 10.7 had 69 % sensitivity and 81 % specificity for EDP > 10 mmHg. CONCLUSION: Doppler and tissue Doppler-derived E/e' ratio is related to simultaneous invasive measurement of EDP in a heterogeneous group of patients with CHD and may provide an additional surrogate non-invasive estimation of ventricular diastolic performance in the routine follow-up of these patients.

Time course of right ventricular functional parameters after surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot determined by cardiac magnetic resonance.

AIM: To evaluate changes of right ventricular (RV) parameters in follow-up examinations after corrected tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). METHODS: CMR was performed twice within 4 years in 45 patients using a 1.5 T scanner. RV-volumes and pulmonary-regurgitant-fractions (PRF) were calculated from standard cine-sequences and flow-sensitive gradient-echo images, respectively. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the post-operative (po) interval (group 1 ≤5 years po; group 2 >5 years po) and subgroups depending on type of surgery (transannular vs. non-transannular). Patient groups were compared among each other and differences between 1st and 2nd CMR were assessed. Furthermore, patients were compared with 25 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Compared with controls RV-size was increased (group 1: p = 0.007; group 2: p < 0.001) and RV function decreased (group 1: p = 0.02; group 2: p < 0.001) in po TOF-patients. PRF was higher in group 2 compared with group 1 (p = 0.04) and significant changes of PRF between 1st and 2nd CMR were found in group 2 (p < 0.01), but not in group 1 (p = 0.29). Compared with the non-transannular subgroup, PRF (p < 0.001) and RV end-diastolic-volume index (RV-EDVI) (p = 0.03) were significantly higher in patients with a transannular patch, EDVI increased between 1st and 2nd CMR. After correction, no significant changes of RV myocardial mass index (RV-MMI) were found. CONCLUSION: After correction of TOF, RV-size, RV-muscle mass (RV-MM) was increased and ejection fraction decreased in "early" follow-up already. Whereas these parameters can remain stable over a long time period, the PRF significantly increased in "late" follow-up dependent on the po interval. Overall, transannular patching went along with higher PRF and bigger RV-size as well as a greater dynamic of these parameters in the time course, which makes this subgroup highly in need of regular follow-up examinations for the optimal timing of re-interventions. In contrast, the increased RV-MM demonstrated no regression po.

Aortic growth arrest after preterm birth: a lasting structural change of the vascular tree.

Young people who are born very preterm exhibit a narrower arterial tree as compared with people born at term. We hypothesized that such arterial narrowing occurs as a direct result of premature birth. The aim of this study was to compare aortic and carotid artery growth in infants born preterm and at term. Observational and longitudinal cohort study of 50 infants (21 born very preterm, all appropriate for gestational age, 29 controls born at term) was conducted. Diameters of the upper abdominal aorta and common carotid artery were measured with ultrasonography at three months before term, at term and three months after term-equivalent age. At the first assessment, the aortic end-diastolic diameter (aEDD) was slightly larger in very preterm infants as compared with fetal dimensions. Fetal aortic EDD increased by 2.6 mm during the third trimester, whereas very preterm infants exhibited 0.9 mm increase in aEDD during the same developmental period (P < 0.001 for group difference). During the following 3-month period, aortic growth continued unchanged (+0.9 mm) in very preterm infants, whereas postnatal growth in term controls slowed down to +1.3 mm (P < 0.001 v. fetal aortic growth). At the final examination, aEDD was 22% and carotid artery EDD was 14% narrower in infants born preterm compared with controls, also after adjusting for current weight (P < 0.01). Aortic and carotid artery growth is impaired after very preterm birth, resulting in arterial narrowing. Arterial growth failure may be a generalized vascular phenomenon after preterm birth, with implications for cardiovascular morbidity in later life.

[Preoperative and postoperative imaging in patients with transposition of the great arteries]. / Prä- und Postoperative Bildgebung bei Patienten mit Transposition der großen Gefäße.

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a rare disease representing not more than 3-5% of all congenital heart diseases. TGA is a cardiac anomaly in which the aorta arises entirely or largely from the morphological right ventricle and the pulmonary artery from the morphological left ventricle. This is called a ventriculo-arterial discordant connection and when accompanied by an atrio-ventricular concordant connection it is called a complete or D-transposition (D-TGA). The terms congenitally corrected TGA (ccTGA) or L-TGA describe an atrio-ventricular discordant connection. In D-TGA survival can only be achieved if additional shunting is simultaneously present, which possibly has to be created post-natal by the so-called Rashkind maneuver.Nowadays, an early anatomic correction using the arterial switch operation is the treatment of choice. Up to the 1980s, an atrial switch operation according to Senning/Mustard was performed. Apart from echocardiography the imaging modality of choice is usually MRI to assess the complex postoperative anatomy, viability of the myocardium and to perform a volumetric and functional assessment, including MR flow measurements. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is used if there are contraindications to MRI or if an assessment of cardiac and especially coronary anatomy is the main interest.

A 13-year-old girl with arterial hypertension - mid-aortic syndrome.

Mid-aortic stenosis (MAS) is a rare clinical entity that is characterised by profound narrowing of the abdominal aorta. MAS usually presents with severe hypertension. Treatment modalities include antihypertensive medication, angioplasty, and surgery. If adequate treatment is initiated long-term prognosis is favourable. Here, we report on 13-year-old girl with MAS who presented to our hospital with arterial hypertension. Initial diagnostic work-up and treatment in patients with MAS are presented.

Cardiogenic shock in a neonate with enterovirus myocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular compromise in the neonate may be caused by birth asphyxia, metabolic disease, congenital heart disease, and systemic bacterial or viral infections. In rare cases, enterovirus infection may cause severe disease including cardiac, cerebral, hepatic and multi organ failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 3-week-old neonate was admitted to our NICU in cardiogenic shock and severe lactic acidosis (ph: 6.9; serum lactate: 15 mmol/l, base excess: -19.8 mmol/l; pCO (2): 54.9 mm Hg). Serum troponin T was within the normal range; serum total creatinin phosphokinase was 57 U/l, CK-MB 110 U/l, LDH 762 U/l; pro-BNP: 64391 pg/ml was elevated. On echocardiography left ventricular function was depressed with a shortening fraction of 16%. The neonate was started on inotropes. There was gradual improvement over the following two weeks with normalisation of left ventricular output. PCR examination was positive for enterovirus. Other causes for left ventricular compromise (congenital heart disease, inborn errors of metabolism, etc.) were ruled out by adequate means. CONCLUSIONS: Enterovirus infection as a cause for myocarditis and cardiogenic shock should be taken into the differential diagnosis in neonates.

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy in paediatric and congenital heart disease: differential effects in various anatomical and functional substrates.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is increasingly used in children in a variety of anatomical and pathophysiological conditions, but published data are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To record current practice and results of CRT in paediatric and congenital heart disease. DESIGN: Retrospective multicentre European survey. SETTING: Paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery centres. PATIENTS: One hundred and nine patients aged 0.24-73.8 (median 16.9) years with structural congenital heart disease (n = 87), congenital atrioventricular block (n = 12) and dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 10) with systemic left (n = 69), right (n = 36) or single (n = 4) ventricular dysfunction and ventricular dyssynchrony during sinus rhythm (n = 25) or associated with pacing (n = 84). INTERVENTIONS: CRT for a median period of 7.5 months (concurrent cardiac surgery in 16/109). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional improvement and echocardiographic change in systemic ventricular function. RESULTS: The z score of the systemic ventricular end-diastolic dimension decreased by median 1.1 (p<0.001). Ejection fraction (EF) or fractional area of change increased by a mean (SD) of 11.5 (14.3)% (p<0.001) and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class improved by median 1.0 grade (p<0.001). Non-response to CRT (18.5%) was multivariably predicted by the presence of primary dilated cardiomyopathy (p = 0.002) and poor NYHA class (p = 0.003). Presence of a systemic left ventricle was the strongest multivariable predictor of improvement in EF/fractional area of change (p<0.001). Results were independent of the number of patients treated in each contributing centre. CONCLUSION: Heart failure associated with ventricular pacing is the largest indication for CRT in paediatric and congenital heart disease. CRT efficacy varies widely with the underlying anatomical and pathophysiological substrate.

Diagnosis and treatment of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder in pediatric heart transplant patients.

PTLD is a severe complication in transplant recipients. Detection of increased EBV load in the peripheral blood acts as a surrogate marker for increased risk of PTLD development. We analyzed the time course of the disease, its severity, the organs involved, and mortality rates in our institutional experience of pediatric heart transplantation. This paper identifies risk factors for PTLD and describes the different ways of diagnosing and treating the disease. PTLD was screened for in 146 pediatric heart transplant patients using a retrospective analysis in patients who received transplantation before 1998. Prospective determination was performed in 72/146 patients transplanted after 1998 within the post-transplant follow-up. The occurrence of PTLD with all interventions, including tapering of immunosuppression, surgery, viral monitoring, and antiviral interventions, was recorded. PTLD was diagnosed in 12/147 (8.2%) children at a mean age of 7.2 +/- 3.3 yr after a mean post-transplant period of 3.2 +/- 2.2 yr. PTLD manifested in: lymph nodes (n = 4), intestine (n = 3), tonsils and adenoids (n = 2), eye (n = 2), and lung (n = 1). It was diagnosed in 7/12 as a monomorphic B-cell lymphoma and in four patients as a monomorphic Burkitt lymphoma, a polymorphic B-cell lymphoma, a T-cell rich or angiocentric lymphoma (Liebow) and as reactive plasmacytic hyperplasia (early lesion), respectively. Histology was not possible in one patient with ocular manifestation. EBV association was 83%. Risk factors in the comparison with patients without PTLD were age at time of Tx, primary EBV infection after Tx, use of Azathioprine and >or=3 doses of ATG. CMV mismatch and CMV infection, rejection episodes and steroids were not risk factors. Despite reduction of immunosuppression, treatment consisted of surgical procedures to remove tumor masses (n = 6), Rituximab (n = 5), polychemotherapy (n = 3), antiviral (n = 1) and autologous T-cell therapy (n = 1). All patients demonstrated full remission without death related to PTLD or treatment at 3.9 (1.3-6.2) yr median follow-up time. The manifestation of PTLD in pediatric heart transplant recipients is associated with EBV infection and is predominantly in the form of a B-cell lymphoma. A tight and specific follow-up including early assessment of immunity status and specific therapeutic intervention to improve cellular immunity is warranted and may contribute to a significant reduction of PTLD-related morbidity and mortality.

Immediate and long-term outcomes in children with prenatal diagnosis of selected isolated congenital heart defects.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the immediate postinterventional and long-term outcomes of children with a prenatal and those with a postnatal diagnosis of isolated congenital heart defects. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 257 children admitted over a 10-year period to our pediatric cardiology unit with one of four different cardiac lesions: transposition of the great arteries, atrioventricular canal defect, tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia; 208 were diagnosed postnatally and 49 prenatally. Management was identical in the two patient groups. RESULTS: The median age at admission was 22 days in the postnatal group and 10 days in the prenatal group. In the prenatal group there was a higher median preoperative O2 saturation level (P=0.07), fewer cases of preoperative cardiac failure (P=0.03), fewer cases of preoperative closure of the duct (P=0.04), a shorter median duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation (P=0.03), less need for resurgery (P=0.02) and a shorter median duration of stay in the intensive care unit (P=0.05). Postoperative survival was 96% in the prenatal group and 90% in the postnatal group. Assessment of long-term survival revealed a longer catheter intervention-free interval in the prenatal group (P=0.03). At the 1-year follow-up, residual impaired cardiac function was less frequent in the prenatal than in the postnatal group (P=0.04). Overall survival at maximum follow-up was 92% in the prenatal and 84% in the postnatal group. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal diagnosis of isolated congenital heart defects allows admission for surgery in a more stable condition and is associated with lower short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality.

Pulmonary and caval blood flow patterns in patients with intracardiac and extracardiac Fontan: a magnetic resonance study.

AIMS: We compared in vivo blood flow and pulsatility after different types of Fontan operation using magnetic resonance imaging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 37 consecutive patients (mean age 19+/-7.9 years, 7.3+/-3.2 years after Fontan operation), 7 with atriopulmonary anastomosis (APC), 18 with intra-atrial lateral tunnel (LTFO) and 12 with extracardiac Fontan (ECFO) were studied using magnetic resonance phase-contrast velocity mapping. Blood flow (volume flow) in the superior vena cava (SVC), inferior vena cava (IVC) and both pulmonary arteries were measured and a pulsatility index was calculated for each vessel. RESULTS: For all modifications, the blood flow distribution between the SVC and IVC was normal (1:2). Patients with APC had a normal pulsatility, a dilated right atrium, partial backward flow in the IVC and physiological blood flow distribution between the pulmonary arteries. LTFO and ECFO patients had no retrograde flow in the IVC, equal blood flow distribution between the pulmonary arteries and very low or absent pulsatility. CONCLUSIONS: MRI allows hemodynamic quantification and characterization of various types of Fontan modifications and may be a valuable tool to predict Fontan failure. Despite showing normal pulsatility, patients with APC have right atrial dilatation and partial backward flow in the IVC, demonstrating suboptimal Fontan circulation. LTFO and ECFO both produce unidirectional antegrade flow in the IVC but pulsatility is very low or absent, which may promote poor pulmonary artery growth and increase of pulmonary vascular resistance contributing to late Fontan failure.

Pulmonary regurgitation is a powerful factor influencing QRS duration in patients after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study.

AIMS: QRS prolongation is a negative prognostic factor for the development of ventricular arrhythmia after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). In this MRI study, we performed a multivariate analysis to determine the influence of volumetric and functional parameters as well as time factors on QRS duration. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients after surgical repair of TOF were studied using a 1.5T MRI. Measurement of the ventricles was performed with a multislice-multiphase sequence. Left and right ventricular volumes, ejection fractions (EF) and myocardial masses were determined. Pulmonary regurgitant fraction (PRF) was quantified by velocity encoded flow measurement in the main pulmonary artery. Maximum QRS duration was taken from a 12-channel ECG. Mean maximum QRS duration was 132 ms (+/- 29 ms). Mean PRF was 29.2% (+/- 13.4%). QRS duration correlated significantly with PRF (r = 0.49; p < 0.01; n = 54) and with right ventricular enddiastolic volume index (RVEDVI) (r = 0.29; p < 0.05; n = 67). Multivariate analysis revealed that the combination of PRF, postoperative period, age at surgical repair, and left ventricular (LV) enddiastolic volume are correlated with QRS prolongation. CONCLUSION: In patients after repair of TOF, pulmonary regurgitation is related to QRS prolongation. Furthermore, even LV size plays a role in the enlargement of the QRS complex.

Advantages of C2 monitoring to avoid acute rejection in pediatric heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate cyclosporine (CsA) blood levels are a major risk factor for acute rejection in transplant recipients. The CsA trough level (C0 level) measured just before the next dose is commonly used to adjust the oral dosage. However, the 2-hour post-CsA dose concentration (C2 level) is favored as the best single-point correlate of CsA area-under-the-curve concentration and may better reflect the immunosuppressive effect of CsA. Because an adequate C2 level has not yet been defined, this study was performed to assess the value of C2 monitoring for the prevention of acute rejection and to define target levels in pediatric heart transplant recipients. METHODS: C2 levels were assessed in 50 pediatric heart transplant patients with oral CsA therapy and compared with trough C0 levels using full blood sampling, mass spectrometry and a blinded analysis. Acute graft rejection was detected using intramyocardial electrocardiogram (IMEG) and serial conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE). Rejection was confirmed or excluded by endomyocardial biopsy. RESULTS: C2 and not C0 levels were significantly reduced in patients with acute graft rejection (ISHLT Grade > or =2). Patients with a C2 level <600 ng/ml had a significantly higher risk of developing acute rejection (100% sensitivity and 82% specificity). Patients with impaired CsA absorption were identified with C2 monitoring and switched to another calcineurin inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring of the C2 rather than the C0 level better reflects immunosuppressive efficiency and identifies patients at increased risk of acute rejection. A C2 level of >600 ng/ml should be the target to prevent acute rejection.

Self-fabricated fenestrated Amplatzer occluders for transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect in patients with left ventricular restriction: midterm results.

To avoid left ventricular failure after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects in elderly patients with restrictive left ventricular physiology, partial occlusion by fenestrated devices may be an option. If complete defect closure is not possible in these patients, significant reduction of left to right shunting usually results in clinical benefit. We report two patients in whom deterioration of left ventricular function could be avoided by implantation of self-fabricated fenestrated Amplatzer Septal Occluders (ASO) in patients with ongoing restrictive left ventricular physiology. We describe technical preparation of the standard occluder, the specific implantation technique, and the initial and the intermediate term results up to 24 months.

Comparison of the tissue Doppler-derived left ventricular Tei index to that obtained by pulse Doppler in patients with congenital and acquired heart disease.

We compared the left ventricular Tei index measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) to that obtained by pulsed Doppler (PW) in patients with congenital heart disease. In 40 consecutive patients with a variety of congenital and acquired heart diseases, the left ventricular (LV) PW Doppler-derived Tei index was assessed on-line as previously described. TDI-derived anatomic curved M-mode and the unprocessed velocity trace from the basal septum were used to time the opening and closure of the mitral and aortic valves in one cardiac cycle, respectively. The TDI Tei index was calculated off-line according to the equation (isovolumetric relaxation time + isovolumetric contraction time)/ ejection time. The Tei index calculated from TDI correlated significantly with that measured by pulsed Doppler (r = 0.92, p = 0.001). The mean difference (range) between pulsed Doppler-derived Tei index and TDI-derived Tei index was 0.005 (-0.07-0.06), which was within the limits of agreements. Interobserver variability for the TDI-derived Tei index was 5 +/- 3%. The TDI Tei index can be used to assess the global LV function in patients with congenital heart disease. In contrast to the PW Doppler-derived Tei index, the TDI-derived Tei index obtained from the same cardiac cycle may help to differentiate systolic from diastolic dysfunction by providing specific information on the isovolumetric intervals.

Quantitative analysis of paradoxical interventricular septal motion following corrective surgery of tetralogy of fallot.

This study aimed to quantify paradoxical interventricular septal motion (PSM) among 20 patients following tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair without severe pulmonary regurgitation and 20 age-matched normal subjects. PSM was quantified using the echocardiography-derived paradox index. Tissue Doppler-derived strain rate was used to assess the longitudinal and radial systolic function of the interventricular septum (IVS). The tissue Doppler-derived Tei index was used to assess the global left ventricular function. Compared to the control group, the paradox index in patients after repair of TOF was significantly higher (p = 0.001), whereas the regional IVS longitudinal (p = 0.02) and radial (p = 0.001) systolic strain rate peaks were significantly reduced. The paradox index in the patient group correlated inversely with the IVS radial peak systolic strain rate (r = -0.64, p = 0.004) and positively with QRS duration (r = 0.50, p = 0.02). The left ventricular (LV) Tei-index correlated significantly with the paradox index (r = 0.71, p = 0.001) and with the septal radial systolic strain rate peak (r = 0.59, p = 0.004). We conclude that electrical delay and reduced regional septal systolic function were the main causes for paradoxical septal motion among patients following TOF repair without significant pulmonary regurgitation. The reduced LV systolic function among this group of patients is mainly secondary to diminished septal systolic function and the paradoxical septal motion.