Intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia in congenital heart disease: types and relation of isthmus to atrial voltage.

Background: Intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia (IART) is a frequent and severe complication in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-related IART is the most frequent mechanism. However, due to fibrosis and surgical scars, non-CTI-related IART is also frequent. Objective: The main objective of this study was to describe the types of IART and circuit locations and to define a cut-off value for unhealthy tissue in the atria. Methods and results: This observational study included all consecutive patients with CHD who underwent a first ablation procedure for IART from January 2009 to December 2015 (94 patients, 39.4% female, age: 36.55 ± 14.9 years, 40.4% with highly complex cardiac disease). During the study, 114 IARTs were ablated (1.21 ± 0.41 IARTs per patient). Cavotricuspid isthmus-related IART was the only arrhythmia in 51% (n = 48) of patients, non-CTI-related IART was the only mechanism in 27.7% (n = 26), and 21.3% of patients (n = 20) presented both types of IART. In cases of non-CTI-related IART, the most frequent location of IART isthmus was the lateral or posterolateral wall of the venous atria, and a voltage cut-off value for unhealthy tissue in the atria of 0.5 mV identified 95.4% of IART isthmus locations. Conclusion: In our population with a high proportion of complex CHD, CTI-related IART was the most frequent mechanism, although non-CTI-related IART was present in 49% of patients (alone or with concomitant CTI-related IART). A cut-off voltage of 0.5 mV could identify 95.4% of the substrates in non-CTI-related IART.

2013 update on congenital heart disease, clinical cardiology, heart failure, and heart transplant.

This article presents the most relevant developments in 2013 in 3 key areas of cardiology: congenital heart disease, clinical cardiology, and heart failure and transplant. Within the area of congenital heart disease, we reviewed contributions related to sudden death in adult congenital heart disease, the importance of specific echocardiographic parameters in assessing the systemic right ventricle, problems in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and indication for pulmonary valve replacement, and confirmation of the role of specific factors in the selection of candidates for Fontan surgery. The most recent publications in clinical cardiology include a study by a European working group on correct diagnostic work-up in cardiomyopathies, studies on the cost-effectiveness of percutaneous aortic valve implantation, a consensus document on the management of type B aortic dissection, and guidelines on aortic valve and ascending aortic disease. The most noteworthy developments in heart failure and transplantation include new American guidelines on heart failure, therapeutic advances in acute heart failure (serelaxin), the management of comorbidities such as iron deficiency, risk assessment using new biomarkers, and advances in ventricular assist devices.

Actualización 2013 en cardiopatías congénitas, cardiología clínica e insuficiencia cardiaca y trasplante / 2013 Update on Congenital Heart Disease, Clinical Cardiology, Heart Failure, and Heart Transplant

En este artículo se presentan las novedades más relevantes de 2013 en tres áreas clave de la cardiología: cardiopatías congénitas, cardiología clínica e insuficiencia cardiaca y trasplante. En cardiopatías congénitas se han revisado las aportaciones relacionadas con la muerte súbita del adulto con cardiopatía congénita, la importancia de algunos parámetros ecocardiográficos en la valoración del ventrículo derecho sistémico, los problemas del paciente con tetralogía de Fallot corregida e indicación de sustitución valvular pulmonar y la confirmación del papel que algunos factores tienen en la selección del candidato a cirugía de Fontan. Entre las novedades del área de cardiología clínica, están el documento para el correcto diagnóstico de las miocardiopatías elaborado por un grupo de trabajo europeo, estudios de coste-efectividad sobre implante percutáneo de prótesis aórticas, un consenso sobre el manejo de la disección de aorta tipo B y una guía de la enfermedad valvular aórtica y de aorta torácica ascendente. En insuficiencia cardiaca y trasplante, las novedades más importantes son las nuevas guías estadounidenses de insuficiencia cardiaca, los avances terapéuticos en la insuficiencia cardiaca aguda (serelaxina), el manejo de las comorbilidades como el déficit de hierro, la evaluación del riesgo con los nuevos biomarcadores y los avances en asistencia ventricular mecánica (AU)

This article presents the most relevant developments in 2013 in 3 key areas of cardiology: congenital heart disease, clinical cardiology, and heart failure and transplant. Within the area of congenital heart disease, we reviewed contributions related to sudden death in adult congenital heart disease, the importance of specific echocardiographic parameters in assessing the systemic right ventricle, problems in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and indication for pulmonary valve replacement, and confirmation of the role of specific factors in the selection of candidates for Fontan surgery. The most recent publications in clinical cardiology include a study by a European working group on correct diagnostic work-up in cardiomyopathies, studies on the cost-effectiveness of percutaneous aortic valve implantation, a consensus document on the management of type B aortic dissection, and guidelines on aortic valve and ascending aortic disease. The most noteworthy developments in heart failure and transplantation include new American guidelines on heart failure, therapeutic advances in acute heart failure (serelaxin), the management of comorbidities such as iron deficiency, risk assessment using new biomarkers, and advances in ventricular assist devices (AU)

Actualización en insuficiencia cardiaca, trasplante cardiaco, cardiopatías congénitas y cardiología clínica / Update on heart failure, heart transplant, congenital heart disease, and clinical cardiology

En el año 2012 se presentan, por primera vez de forma conjunta y agrupadas en la misma área de conocimiento, las novedades de tres secciones científicas: insuficiencia cardiaca y trasplante, cardiopatías congénitas y cardiología clínica. Las novedades más relevantes en el área de insuficiencia cardiaca y trasplante están en la publicación de las guías europeas de insuficiencia cardiaca de 2012. En ellas, se considera las nuevas posibilidades de algunos fármacos (eplerenona e ivabradina), la ampliación de los criterios de resincronización y de utilización de la asistencia ventricular, la diálisis peritoneal y las nuevas posibilidades de reparación percutánea de la válvula mitral (MitraClip®). En las cardiopatías congénitas se ha mejorado de manera significativa la supervivencia de los niños con síndrome del corazón izquierdo hipoplásico. Se han revisado indicaciones y se han modificado las técnicas percutáneas y los dispositivos para el tratamiento de la comunicación interauricular ostium secundum y los defectos septales ventriculares. Cada vez son más frecuentes los procedimientos híbridos en el abordaje de defectos cardiacos estructurales congénitos. En el área de cardiología clínica, hay estudios en que la implantación percutánea de prótesis obtendría menor mortalidad que la implantación quirúrgica. También se recomiendan los criterios CHA2DS2-VASc y utilizar los nuevos anticoagulantes orales. Por otro lado, se están desarrollando nuevas técnicas de secuenciación que permiten el análisis de multitud de genes (AU)

In the year 2012, 3 scientific sections—heart failure and transplant, congenital heart disease, and clinical cardiology—are presented together in the same article. The most relevant development in the area of heart failure and transplantation is the 2012 publication of the European guidelines for heart failure. These describe new possibilities for some drugs (eplerenone and ivabradine); expand the criteria for resynchronization, ventricular assist, and peritoneal dialysis; and cover possibilities of percutaneous repair of the mitral valve (MitraClip®). The survival of children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in congenital heart diseases has improved significantly. Instructions for percutaneous techniques and devices have been revised and modified for the treatment of atrial septal defects, ostium secundum, and ventricular septal defects. Hybrid procedures for addressing structural congenital heart defects have become more widespread. In the area of clinical cardiology studies have demonstrated that percutaneous prosthesis implantation has lower mortality than surgical implantation. Use of the CHA2DS2-VASc criteria and of new anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban) is also recommended. In addition, the development of new sequencing techniques has enabled the analysis of multiple genes (AU)

Update on heart failure, heart transplant, congenital heart disease, and clinical cardiology.

In the year 2012, 3 scientific sections-heart failure and transplant, congenital heart disease, and clinical cardiology-are presented together in the same article. The most relevant development in the area of heart failure and transplantation is the 2012 publication of the European guidelines for heart failure. These describe new possibilities for some drugs (eplerenone and ivabradine); expand the criteria for resynchronization, ventricular assist, and peritoneal dialysis; and cover possibilities of percutaneous repair of the mitral valve (MitraClip(®)). The survival of children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in congenital heart diseases has improved significantly. Instructions for percutaneous techniques and devices have been revised and modified for the treatment of atrial septal defects, ostium secundum, and ventricular septal defects. Hybrid procedures for addressing structural congenital heart defects have become more widespread. In the area of clinical cardiology studies have demonstrated that percutaneous prosthesis implantation has lower mortality than surgical implantation. Use of the CHA2DS2-VASc criteria and of new anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban) is also recommended. In addition, the development of new sequencing techniques has enabled the analysis of multiple genes.

[Pediatric cardiology and congenital heart disease: from fetus to adult]. / Cardiología pediátrica y cardiopatías congénitas: del feto al adulto.

This article contains a review of some of the most important publications on congenital heart disease and pediatric cardiology that appeared in 2010 and up until September 2011. Of particular interest were studies on demographic changes reported in this patient population and on the need to manage the patients' transition from the pediatric to the adult cardiology department. This transition has given rise to the appearance of new areas of interest: for example, pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease, and the effect of genetic factors on the etiology and transmission of particular anomalies. In addition, this review considers some publications on fetal cardiology from the perspective of early diagnosis and, if possible, treatment. There follows a discussion on new contributions to Eisenmenger's syndrome and arrhythmias, as well as on imaging techniques, interventional catheterization and heart transplantation. Finally, there is an overview of the new version of clinical practice guidelines on the management of adult patients with congenital heart disease and of recently published guidelines on pregnancy in women with heart disease, both produced by the European Society of Cardiology.

Cardiología pediátrica y cardiopatías congénitas: del feto al adulto / Pediatric cardiology and congenital heart disease: from fetus to adult

Presentamos una revisión de algunos de los artículos más significativos publicados en el área de las cardiopatías congénitas y la cardiología pediátrica durante 2010 y hasta septiembre de 2011, con especial interés en los relacionados con los cambios demográficos que se han producido en esta población y con la necesidad de realizar la transición de estos pacientes desde los servicios de cardiología pediátrica a los de adulto. Ello ha dado lugar a la aparición de nuevas áreas de interés, como el embarazo en mujeres con una cardiopatía congénita y el papel que los factores genéticos pueden tener en la etiología y la transmisión de determinadas anomalías. Asimismo, y con el objetivo de precocidad diagnóstica y, de ser posible, terapéutica, se revisan algunos artículos relacionados con la cardiología fetal. Seguidamente se mencionan las nuevas aportaciones en el síndrome de Eisenmenger y las arritmias, así como en técnicas de imagen, cateterismo intervencionista y trasplante cardiaco; finalmente se alude a la nueva versión de las guías de práctica clínica sobre el manejo del paciente adulto con una cardiopatía congénita y a la recientemente publicada guía sobre el embarazo de mujeres con cardiopatía, ambas procedentes de la Sociedad Europea de Cardiología (AU)

This article contains a review of some of the most important publications on congenital heart disease and pediatric cardiology that appeared in 2010 and up until September 2011. Of particular interest were studies on demographic changes reported in this patient population and on the need to manage the patients ‘transition from the pediatric to the adult cardiology department. This transition has given rise to the appearance of new areas of interest: for example, pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease, andthe effect of genetic factors on the etiology and transmission of particular anomalies. In addition, this review considers some publications on fetal cardiology from the perspective of early diagnosis and, if possible, treatment. There follows a discussion on new contributions to Eisenmenger’s syndrome and arrhythmias, as well as on imaging techniques, interventional catheterization and heart transplantation. Finally, there is an overview of the new version of clinical practice guidelines on the management of adult patients with congenital heart disease and of recently published guidelines on pregnancy in women with heart disease, both produced by the European Society of Cardiology (AU)

Specific characteristics of sudden death in a mediterranean Spanish population.

Most of the data reported on sudden cardiac death has been from studies of Anglo-Saxon patients. We conducted a study to ascertain the relation between sudden death (SD) and some epidemiologic, clinical, and biochemical parameters and to assess the coronary histopathologic aspects of subjects in a Spanish population who had died suddenly. A total of 204 subjects (86% men), aged 12 to 80 years (mean 54 ± 15), who had died from out-of-hospital natural SD were evaluated. Only 15% of subjects had been previously diagnosed with heart disease. Pathologic evidence of underlying cardiovascular disease was found in 90% of cases, with coronary heart disease (CHD) the most frequent (58%). The CHD was acute coronary thrombosis in 41% and a stable plaque with luminal narrowing of ≥75% in 59%. An old myocardial infarction was found in 31% of the SD victims. Cardiac hypertrophy was found in 48%, with no relation between the presence of cardiac hypertrophy and CHD. Patients with stable plaques had a greater heart weight than did those with acute coronary thrombosis (p = 0.02). Male gender, older age, smoking, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio of ≥3 were associated with CHD. A greater percentage of patients with an eroded and/or ruptured plaque than patients with a stable plaque were smokers. Only smoking and a low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio of ≥3 were associated with an eroded and/or ruptured plaque. In conclusion, compared with the findings from studies of Anglo-Saxon patients, a lower incidence of CHD and acute coronary thrombosis and a greater incidence of cardiac hypertrophy were found in SD victims of a Mediterranean Spanish population.

Cardiopatías congénitas en la edad adulta. ¿Ficción o realidad? Introducción / No disponible

No disponible

Estudio de las cardiopatías congénitas por resonancia magnética cardiaca / Cardiac magnetic resonance in the assessment of congenital heart disease

Se revisa la utilidad de la cardiorresonancia magnética para el diagnóstico y seguimiento no invasivo de las cardiopatías congénitas, con especial énfasis en las indicaciones más habituales: estudio de los cortocircuitos intracardiacos, estudio anatómico y funcional de la coartación de aorta, seguimiento postoperatorio de la tetralogía de Fallot y valoración postoperatoria de las cardiopatías congénitas complejas (AU)

This article reviews the usefulness of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in the noninvasive diagnosis and follow-up of congenital heart disease. Particular emphasis is placed on the most frequent reasons for requesting a cardiovascular magnetic resonance study: intracardiac communication, anatomical and functional studies of aortic coarctation, and postoperative follow-up of tetralogy of Fallot and other complex congenital malformations (AU)