The Eighth Pediatric Interventional Cardiac Symposium (PICS-VIII) and Second Emerging New Technologies in Congenital Heart Surgery (ENTICHS-II)

Abstract

In this issue, a second set of review articles written by notables in the field of pediatric interventional cardiology is presented. These topics were discussed during the PICS and ENTICHS–2004 held in Chicago. As we mentioned in the previous review issue, 700 professional from more than 50 countries attended this symposium. Many live cases were performed and transmitted live via satellites from 10 cardiac centers in Europe and the United States during this meeting. In addition, there were many lectures given by the course-distinguished faculty. In this review issue of Pediatric Cardiology, 11 papers are presented. These were written by the PICS–2004 speakers. The first two papers discuss catheter closure of ventricular septal defects. Dr. Masura discusses the perimembranous ventricular septal defects, and Dr, Thanopoulos discusses muscular ventricular septal defects. This is followed by Dr. Ewert’s article, which discusses challenges encountered during catheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus. Then, two papers discussing patent foramen ovale (PFO) and new devices are presented; Dr, Morandi and colleagues discuss the association between migraine headaches and PFO, and Dr. Hein and colleagues discuss new devices for PFO and the left atrial appendage. Drs. Kumar and Tynan review the issues and difficulties of performing interventional procedures for congenital heart disease in Third World countries. This is followed by a new area of imaging written by Raval and colleagues for the use of MRI to guide pediatric endovascular procedures. Then, Dr. Ing discusses the topic of stent and delivery to target lesions. Specifically, he discusses the issue of intraoperative stenting and use of intraoperative angiography in collaboration with surge ions. The final two articles discuss embolization techniques; Tan and colleagues review the retrieval of coils and device, and in a review article Dr. Walsh discusses advanced embolization techniques. Finally, Ruiz discusses the latest aspects of transcatheter valve repair/replacement. He focuses on the aortic and mitral valves. We are certain that the two review issues of Pediatric Cardiology will significantly add to our body of knowledge in this continually evolving area of pediatric interventional cardiology. The next PICS/ENTICHS in September 2005 will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, immediately preceding the Fourth World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.