Cardiology in the young
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Cardiology in the young · Nov 2017
Randomized Controlled TrialComparison of the therapeutic effects and side effects of tadalafil and sildenafil after surgery in young infants with pulmonary arterial hypertension due to systemic-to-pulmonary shunts.
Young children with CHD and large systemic-to-pulmonary shunts eventually develop pulmonary hypertension. At present, phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors such as sildenafil have been used to control pulmonary pressure before and after cardiac surgery. Recently, tadalafil has been utilised in older children with similar efficacy, but it has been used to a lesser extent in young infants. ⋯ Most of the patients had no side effects, and only five patients had a minor with no significant difference in both groups (p=0.371). Tadalafil can be considered as an effective oral therapy for preoperative and postoperative pulmonary hypertension in young infants. It can be administered at a once-daily dose with an appropriate efficacy and safety profile as sildenafil, and therefore it can be considered as an alternative to sildenafil in young children.
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Cardiology in the young · Nov 2017
Evaluation of cardiac autonomic function using heart rate variability in children with acute carbon monoxide poisoning.
Introduction Carbon monoxide poisoning may cause myocardial toxicity and cardiac autonomic dysfunction, which may contribute to the development of life-threatening arrhythmias. We investigated the potential association between acute carbon monoxide exposure and cardiac autonomic function measured by heart rate variability.
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Cardiology in the young · Nov 2017
Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with paediatric bone sarcoma and soft tissue sarcoma.
Anthracycline cardiotoxicity is an important side-effect in long-term childhood cancer survivors. We evaluated the incidence of and factors associated with anthracycline cardiotoxicity in a population of patients diagnosed with bone or soft tissue sarcoma. Materials and methods We retrospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with bone or soft tissue sarcoma, from 1995 to 2011, treated with anthracycline chemotherapy at our Centre and with a follow-up echocardiography carried out ⩾3 years from cardiotoxic therapy completion. Cardiac toxicity was graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. ⋯ In our population, the cumulative incidence of cardiotoxicity is comparable to rates in the literature. This underlines the need for primary prevention and lifelong cardiac toxicity surveillance programmes in long-term childhood cancer survivors.
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Cardiology in the young · Oct 2017
Transcatheter closure of the patent foramen ovale in children: intermediate-term follow-up results.
The patent foramen ovale is almost a normal anatomical hole between the atria with ~30% incidence in the general population. It has been suggested that the patent foramen ovale is the cause of some neurological events, which is explained by paradoxical embolism. Transcatheter closure of the patent foramen ovale is a common procedure in adult patients with cerebral ischaemic events, but there are limited data investigating the results in children. ⋯ All patients responded to the study survey. In 15 patients, ailments did not continue after patent foramen ovale closure and they significantly decreased in two of them. We suggest that under the right conditions device closure of the patent foramen ovale is a safe solution for these cryptogenic ischaemic events and migraine.
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Cardiology in the young · Sep 2017
Prescribing an automated external defibrillator for children at increased risk of sudden arrhythmic death.
Automated external defibrillators can be life-saving in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ Parents can be taught to recognise cardiac arrest, apply resuscitation skills, and use an automated external defibrillator. Prescribing an automated external defibrillator should be considered for children at increased risk of sudden arrhythmic death, especially where the risk/benefit ratio of an implantable defibrillator is unclear or delay to defibrillator implantation is deemed necessary.