Cardiology in the young
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Cardiology in the young · Oct 2006
Experience with intraoperative ultrasound in paediatric cardiac surgery.
Intraoperative ultrasound was introduced to evaluate the adequacy of repair after surgical repair of congenital cardiac malformations. Our purpose was to review the evolution of this technique at our centre. ⋯ Intraoperative ultrasound is an important technique for monitoring the results of complex congenital cardiac surgery. The immediate recognition of significant lesions, together with multidisciplinary discussion, allows for improved management and prevention of early surgical reintervention.
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Cardiology in the young · Oct 2006
Criterions for selection of patients for, and results of, a new technique for construction of the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt.
We describe alternative surgical techniques for construction of systemic-to-pulmonary arterial shunts, and propose criterions for their application in selected patients. ⋯ Patients with a right- or left-sided aortic arch and right-sided descending thoracic aorta, those with anomalies of systemic venous drainage masking the origin of great arterial branches, and those with disproportionately small subclavian arteries, constitute the ideal candidates for our suggested modification of the construction of a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. The palliation provided by these shunts was satisfactory, with predictable growth of pulmonary arteries, insignificant distortion in the great majority, and easy take-down.
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Cardiology in the young · Aug 2006
An index for evaluating results in paediatric cardiac intensive care.
To determine if in-hospital mortality after cardiac surgery can be predicted, in children, using a new clinical and surgical index. ⋯ We found that surgery undertaken in the neonatal period, weight below the 5th percentile, the presence of associated clinical risk factors, operations of higher complexity, and more than 90 minutes of cardiopulmonary bypass were all significantly associated with mortality. Our suggested new index showed a linear correlation with mortality, and in our current experience, has proved a valuable tool for predicting adverse outcomes.
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Cardiology in the young · Jun 2006
Comparative StudyRelevance of the measurement of the concentration of lactate in the serum subsequent to the Fontan procedure in small children.
To determine the clinical relevance of change in the level of lactate in the serum as a meanings of establishing the efficacy of the circulation immediately after the Fontan procedure in small children. ⋯ Postoperative changes in the levels of lactate in the serum subsequent to creation of the Fontan procedure were peculiar, not necessarily correlated with the cardiac output, but relevant to the clinical course.