Congenital heart disease
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Congenital heart disease · Jan 2008
Case ReportsCerebral malaria in children with cyanotic heart diseases: the need for a closer look.
We report four cases of encephalopathy admitted with fever, hypercyanosis, breathlessness, deep coma and convulsions considered of interest because these children had cyanotic heart diseases and concomitant cerebral malaria. Their presenting clinical features, which suggested cerebral malaria (decreased level of consciousness ranging in severity from drowsiness and severe headache to confusion, delirium and even deep coma) may equally characterise hypercyanotic episodes among children with uncorrected cyanotic cardiac defects. We also inferred that children with cyanotic cardiac defects may be prone to cerebral malaria and that those residing in the tropics may benefit from anti-malarial prophylaxis.
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Congenital heart disease · Sep 2007
Feeding difficulty in newborns following congenital heart surgery.
Following neonatal congenital heart surgery, one of the factors impacting patient recovery is feeding difficulty. The aim of this study is to identify the risk factors. ⋯ Feeding difficulties are not uncommon following surgery for the correction of congenital heart defects, especially in the neonate. The most important risk factors appear to be an increased RACHS score and prolonged postoperative intubation. Hopefully, by defining the risk factors, proactive management strategies can be developed to minimize these problems following neonatal congenital heart surgery.
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Congenital heart disease · May 2007
Review Case ReportsOcclusion of the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt: unique methods of treatment and review of catheter-based intervention.
To report unique methods of treatment and review catheter-based intervention for occluded modified Blalock-Taussig shunts (BTS). ⋯ The use of catheter-based techniques for the treatment of BTS occlusion is highly successful, and potentially avoids high-risk re-operative intervention. ECMO can provide for a stable patient during the procedure. Hopefully, with improved technology and innovative procedures, more children in the future with BTS occlusion can be served by successful percutaneous intervention.
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Congenital heart disease · May 2007
Regression of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations after transcatheter reconnection of the pulmonary arteries in patients with unidirectional Fontan.
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM) develop in patients with a lung deprived of hepatic blood flow. Unidirectional Fontan patients have superior vena cava (SVC) blood directed to the left or right pulmonary artery (PA), and inferior vena cava (IVC) and hepatic blood baffled to the contra-lateral PA. Cyanosis often develops due to PAVM in the lung deprived of hepatic blood. We report experiences with transcatheter PA reconnection in patients with unidirectional Fontan and PAVM. ⋯ Patients with unidirectional Fontan and PAVM demonstrate increased oxygen saturations following reconnection of PAs, suggesting regression of PAVM. This procedure can be performed safely using uncovered stents, and it is effective in improving systemic oxygen saturations.