Giornale italiano di cardiologia : organo ufficiale della Federazione italiana di cardiologia : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di chirurgia cardiaca
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Dextro-transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum (d-TGA) is the most frequent cyanotic congenital heart disease in neonates. In newborns affected by d-TGA, the pulmonary and systemic circulations are in parallel instead of being in series. ⋯ The current surgical approach is the anatomical correction with the arterial switch operation, which has excellent early and medium-term results. In this review, we discuss treatment of d-TGA and the arterial switch operation, the medium- and long-term results following surgery, and the reasons that have led the arterial switch operation to its popularity compared to the former physiological correction of d-TGA, i.e. the Senning and Mustard procedures.
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G Ital Cardiol (Rome) · Feb 2015
[Clinical competence certification for advanced heart failure: an emerging need also in Italy?].
Advanced heart failure (HF) is a deadly condition. Fortunately, an increasing array of effective (but often expensive) therapies has become available. The management of patients with advanced HF is complex and requires a high level of expertise. ⋯ The survey indicated that there is a perceived need. A first step towards education of advanced HF specialists could be the implementation of CME courses by Scientific Societies. As regards certification of institutional competence for the centers with the highest expertise in advanced HF management, the government appears to be the only entity that can grant it.