Cardiology in the young
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Cardiology in the young · Feb 2012
Oral feeding outcomes in neonates with congenital cardiac disease undergoing cardiac surgery.
Achievement of adequate oral nutrition is a challenging task after early neonatal cardiac surgery. This study aims to describe predictors of oral feeding outcomes for neonates after early surgical interventions. ⋯ Neonates with congenital cardiac disease face significant barriers to successfully achieving oral feeding on hospital discharge. Enteral feeding guidelines focus on physiological stabilisation and do not always address the developmental milestones necessary to support oral feeding. Future prospective studies are necessary to identify multimodal strategies to optimise early feeding.
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Cardiology in the young · Feb 2012
Review Meta AnalysisBalloon atrial septostomy and pre-operative brain injury in neonates with transposition of the great arteries: a systematic review and a meta-analysis.
To perform a systematic review and a meta-analysis of the effects of balloon atrial septostomy on peri-operative brain injury in neonates with transposition of the great arteries. ⋯ Our analysis shows that balloon atrial septostomy is not associated with increased odds for peri-operative brain injury. Balloon atrial septostomy should still be used for those patients with significant hypoxaemia, haemodynamic instability, or both.
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Cardiology in the young · Feb 2012
Right bundle branch block as a marker for interatrial septal abnormalities.
Interatrial septal anomalies, which include atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale, and atrial septal aneurysm, are common disorders among adult patients. Early detection of interatrial septal anomalies is important in order to prevent haemodynamic consequences and/or thromboembolic events. Electrocardiogram offers some clues that should serve as hints for detection of interatrial abnormalities. The aim of our study was to analyse the interatrial septum by transoesophageal echocardiography in patients with electrocardiogram signs of right bundle branch block and in those without right bundle branch block. ⋯ Right bundle branch block should serve as a valuable indicator to motivate a detailed search for interatrial septal abnormalities.
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Cardiology in the young · Feb 2012
Case ReportsPrenatal complex congenital heart disease with Loeys-Dietz syndrome.
We report an infantile case of Loeys-Dietz syndrome prenatally diagnosed with congenital complex heart disease - double outlet right ventricle and interruption of the aortic arch. The patient also showed prominent dilatation of the main pulmonary artery. Emergency bilateral pulmonary artery banding was performed on the 9th day. ⋯ As cardiovascular lesions of Loeys-Dietz syndrome appear early and progress rapidly, the prognosis is generally poor. Patients require periodic examination and early intervention with medical therapy such as Losartan administration and surgical therapy. Early genetic screening is thought to be useful for the prediction of complications as well as vascular disease.