Mortalities associated with use of a commercial suspension of polyvinyl alcohol.

Two cases of symptomatic neonatal hepatic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) are presented. Both were treated with percutaneous transcatheter embolization and a commercially available polyvinyl alcohol suspension. Both infants died soon after AVM embolization. The results of laboratory examination of particle-size homogeneity of this commercial suspension demonstrate marked inhomogeneity of particle size very probably contributed to the death of these patients. A protocol has been developed to help determine appropriate particle size in individual cases; this may help prevent such catastrophic results during transcatheter embolization.

Atypical total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: two channels leading to infracardiac terminations.

Reported is a rare case of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) where veins from each lung joined a homolateral confluence. From each confluence, a vein descended into the abdomen, the vein from the right lung joining the ductus venosus, while the vein from the left joined the portal vein. In TAPVC to systemic veins, multiple connections are rare. Multiple connections are most common at supracardiac and cardiac levels, less common at supra- and infracardiac levels, and rare at cardiac and infracardiac levels. From the literature, it is evident that multiple connections at one body level, as in our case, are rare.

Cardiovocal syndrome in infancy.

Chronic hoarseness is a rare presenting or accompanying sign of congestive heart failure in infancy. Two infants had a paralyzed left vocal cord, secondary to traction on their left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Both had significant underlying congenital heart disease (type 2 aortopulmonary window, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus; large ventricular septal defect). After surgical repair of their congenital heart defect, both infants had normal vocal cord function. Direct laryngoscopy is necessary to diagnose the cause of persistent hoarseness in infancy. If a paralyzed left vocal cord is found, a comprehensive cardiovascular diagnostic work-up is warranted.

Intravenous KCl supplementation in pediatric cardiac surgical patients.

A total of 31 pediatric cardiac patients (mean age 19 1/2 months) who required surgery for repair of various congenital heart defects were prospectively studied in the postoperative period to determine potassium (K) dose-response characteristics. All patients received supplementary K when the serum K was less than 4.0 meq/liter. A total of 100 administrations of intravenous potassium chloride (KCl) were evaluated. KCl, 0.5 meq/kg, was infused over 2 h by syringe pump. This infusion was repeated as necessary to achieve a serum K greater than or equal to 4.0 meq/liter. The KCl was administered in addition to the K in the patients' maintenance solution. Blood samples for serum K determination were collected 15-30 min before and after the KCl infusion. The mean K dose administered was 0.72 +/- 0.23 meq/kg. This produced a mean rise in serum K of 0.61 +/- 0.48 meq/liter. Of 100 administrations, 11 resulted in no change or a decrease in serum K. Four of 100 administrations resulted in serum K greater than 5.0 meq/liter. Intravenous KCl supplementation in a dose of 0.5 meq/kg administered over 2 h is safe and effective for pediatric postoperative cardiac patients. Serum K should be measured to monitor therapy, due to variable response.

Primary liver tumors in the pediatric age group: an angiographic challenge.

Eleven children, ranging in age from three months to fifteen years, with primary liver tumors were examined by large volume direct magnification arteriography (2.5--3 ml of contrast material per 1 kg body weight for a single selective study). The following tumors were found: hepatoblastoma (1), hepatocellular carcinoma of the adult type, hepatoma (3), infantile hemangioendothelioma (4), hemangiosarcoma (1), focal nodular hyperplasia (1) and cystic mesenchymal hamartoma (1). Some of the tumors have a quite typical angiographic appearance as infantile hemangioendothelioma, hemangiosarcoma, cystic mesenchymal hamartoma. The other highly vascular neoplasms show unspecific signs of vascular malignant tumors; subtile angiographic signs may, however, be present and help in the differential diagnosis.