Cardiology in the young
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Cardiology in the young · Dec 2015
Multicenter StudyPerioperative feeding management of neonates with CHD: analysis of the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium (PC4) registry.
Introduction The optimal perioperative feeding strategies for neonates with CHD are unknown. In the present study, we describe the current feeding practices across a multi-institutional cohort. ⋯ In this cohort, neonatal feeding practices and outcomes appear to vary across diagnostic groups and institutions. Only half of the patients received preoperative enteral nutrition; almost half had discharge feeding tubes. Multi-institutional collaboration is necessary to determine feeding strategies associated with best clinical outcomes.
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Cardiology in the young · Dec 2015
Social media in paediatric heart disease: professional use and opportunities to improve cardiac care.
Social media is any type of communication utilising electronic technology that follows two guiding principles: free publishing or sharing of content and ideas and group collaboration and inter-connectedness. Over the last 10 years, social media technology has made tremendous inroads into all facets of communication. Modalities such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are no longer viewed as new communication technologies. ⋯ It directly affects all medical providers, both users and non-users. Further, social media has the ability to improve care for patients with paediatric heart disease. This article details social media's current influence on paediatric cardiology, including considerations for professional use of social media and potential opportunities to improve cardiac care.
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Cardiology in the young · Oct 2015
Case ReportsAtrioventricular valve repair along with Fontan completion.
Atrioventricular valve regurgitation is widely known as a risk factor for Fontan completion in patients with univentricular physiology. To date, indications and timing for atrioventricular valve repair remain unclear and different surgical techniques have been advocated. Since 2013, 50 consecutive patients underwent extracardiac Fontan completion in our institution. ⋯ Valve repair when moderate or severe regurgitation is present may be performed at a low risk. Both the staged approach of atrioventricular valve repair followed by the Fontan as a separate operation and the combined approach of simultaneous atrioventricular valve repair and Fontan have a role in the management of these complex patients. We highlight the importance of the use of "easy and simple" surgical techniques for repairing the atrioventricular valve in order to provide a better life prognosis in Fontan patients.
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Cardiology in the young · Oct 2015
Upgraded heart failure therapy leads to an improved outcome of dilated cardiomyopathy in infants and toddlers.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of cardiac death in children. Approximately 30% of children die or need cardiac transplantation in the first year after establishing the diagnosis. New strategies are needed to improve the outcome in this high-risk patient population. ⋯ Our data suggest that the clinical approach described here may result in a markedly improved medium-term outcome in young children with dilated cardiomyopathy. Further studies are required to evaluate whether these approaches reduce end-points such as transplantation or death.
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Cardiology in the young · Oct 2015
Case ReportsSpontaneous aberrant right subclavian arterio-oesophageal fistula in a previously healthy child.
An aberrant right subclavian artery arising from a left aortic arch is the most frequently described congenital aortic arch anomaly, occurring in 0.5 to 2.3% of the general population. Despite the retro-oesophageal course of the aberrant subclavian artery, an arterio-oesophageal fistula is an uncommon finding, only previously reported as a very rare complication in critically ill patients with oesophageal instrumentation or foreign body ingestion. We describe a unique case of a spontaneous aberrant right subclavian arterio-oesophageal fistula without an inciting event in a 17-month-child.