Pediatric Cardiology Department Research Articles

IMPACT OF MALNUTRITION ON PEDIATRIC HEART FAILURE ANALYZING Z-SCORES AT PRESENTATION

Pediatric heart failure represents a critical health concern characterized by the heart's inability to effectively pump blood, often resulting from congenital heart defects, myocarditis, and cardiomyopathies. Malnutrition has emerged as a recognized comorbidity in pediatric heart failure, significantly impacting patient outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between malnutrition and pediatric heart failure by analyzing Z-scores at presentation to guide targeted interventions and improve patient management. The study employed a retrospective observational design and was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from January 2023 to January 2024. A total of 764 pediatric patients with heart failure were included in the analysis. Nutritional status was assessed using weight and height measurements, and Z-scores were calculated based on WHO Child Growth Standards. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 22. Results revealed varying degrees of malnutrition among pediatric heart failure patients, with 62.8% classified as severely malnourished, 28.4% as moderately malnourished, and 8.8% as mildly malnourished. The calculated Z-score of -3.2 indicated significant malnutrition among the study population. Furthermore, a negative correlation (r = -0.32, p < 0.001) between Z-score and left ventricular ejection fraction was observed, suggesting a link between malnutrition severity and cardiac dysfunction. These findings underscore the high prevalence of malnutrition among pediatric heart failure patients and its substantial impact on outcomes. Early nutritional assessment and intervention are crucial for optimizing patient care and enhancing outcomes in children with heart failure. Collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches that integrate cardiac and nutritional management strategies can comprehensively address the diverse needs of this vulnerable population.

Clinical Presentation, Echocardiographic Findings, Treatment Options Available for Ventricular Septal Defect in Children: A Study in a Tertiary Care Military Hospital

Introduction: Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart defects. Early diagnosis, appropriate treatment and transcatheter VSD closure with newer devices in favorable cases, decrease the need for surgical interventions and mortality. Objectives: To determine the clinical presentation, echocardiographic findings and the treatment options available for VSD in Paediatric Cardiology Department, Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Dhaka. Methods: It was a cross sectional observational study carried out in the department of Paediatric Cardiology, CMH Dhaka. Forty six isolated ventricular septal defect cases were diagnosed by echocardiography. Clinical features, echocardiographic findings and treatment options of all 46 cases were observed and recorded in pre formed data sheet and statistical analysis was done in statistical software SPSS version 25. Results: Among the 46 patients of VSD, majority 20(43.48%) were in age group 0-6 months. Most of them were male 24(52%). Common presenting features were dyspnea on exertion 23(50%), cough 30(65.20%), head sweating 23(50%), and feeding problem in 34(73.91%). VSD in 27(58.6%) patients were <5mm, 15(32.6%) were 5-10mm and 4(8.7%) had size >10mm. Most of the VSDs were perimembranous 31(67.39%). Among the 46 cases medical management was given to 20(43.5%), device closure was done in 10(21.7%) patients and surgical interventions done in 16(34.8 %) patients. Conclusion: Most of the VSD patients presented at an earlier age some of them were undergone device closure and some require surgical interventions that were not suitable for device closure. Patients those presented lately developed pulmonary hypertension. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 19, No 1 (June) 2023: 22-26

Apport du scanner cardiaque dans la prise en charge des cardiopathies congénitales : expérience de l'institut de cardiologie d'Abidjan à propos de 27 cas

Introduction and objectivesIn contrast to developed countries, cardiac CT is not widely used in West Africa for the assessment of congenital heart disease, and has only recently been introduced in Côte d'Ivoire. The lack of data prompted this study, the aim of which was to describe our experience of the contribution of CT to the management of congenital heart disease in the Ivorian cardiology setting. Patients and methodThis was a prospective study which took place in the pediatric cardiology department over a period of 9 months (September 2022 to June 2023) which included all patients with congenital heart disease explored by echocardiography and cardiac scan. ResultsThe average age was 5.7 ± 4.7 years with extremes of 5 months and 16 years. We noted a female predominance with a sex ratio of 0.52. The main heart diseases were: tetralogy of Fallot (37.1%), followed by pulmonary atresia with open septum (18.52%). The assessment of the anatomy of the pulmonary arteries (81.48%), the search for aortopulmonary collaterals (59.63%) and finally the assessment of the anatomy of the aorta (18.52%) were the main indications. The practice of cardiac CT scanning has enabled better accuracy in the diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease in several cases: an interruption of the aortic arch was found in 1 case initially suspected of hypoplasia of the aortic arch, three cases of partial abnormal pulmonary venous return and one case of total abnormal pulmonary venous return. Also, agenesis of the left pulmonary artery with birth anomaly of the right coronary artery in the assessment of tetralogy of Fallot was found in 1 case. The CT scan made it possible to specify the exact topography of the aortopulmonary collaterals in four cases of pulmonary atresia with an open septum. ConclusionCT has enabled better visualization of the arterial and venous pulmonary tree, identification and exact localization of aorto-pulmonary collaterals, precise description of the three-dimensional anatomy of the coronary arteries, and better precision of congenital anomalies of the aorta.

Improving Quality Health Care Services by Implementing DMAIC Approach in Paediatric Cardiology Department of Public Hospital of Sindh, Pakistan: A Case Study

Objectives: The hospital industry has changed its dimension from diagnosis to complete total patient satisfaction. This study aims to identify the critical variables that can enhance overall patient satisfaction in the hospital industry. The study identified three critical factors for any hospital to provide quality service. Methodology: The study adopted the lean Six Sigma process improvement methodology to identify the critical service factors in hospitals. Lean Six Sigma is a flexible problem-solving tool that comprehensively solves any problem. DMAIC process improvement methodology is used to define, measure, analyze, improve, and control the overall experience in the hospital. CTQ (critical to quality) was defined and represented by Kano methodology. After filtration through cause and effect analysis, three core dimensions and 25 sub-dimensions of critical quality were identified. The impacts of these 25 sub-dimensions were evaluated and prioritized using the Kano Model of patient satisfaction. This identifies the most critical service requirement. This study is an initiative for service quality improvement in the hospital industry. In the future, this technique can be modified and adopted by different public and private hospitals to enhance the practical implementation. Results: Findings indicate that healthcare organizations demonstrate enhanced system-wide capabilities, optimizing resource utilization. Understanding patient needs propels satisfaction and delight. Three overarching factors, with 25 sub-factors, significantly impact patient satisfaction, predominantly yielding positive effects across the categories. Conclusion: This research concludes that providing quality service is critical in the hospital industry. Quality service is pivotal in the evolving hospital industry, transitioning from a focus on diagnosis to holistic patient satisfaction. This study aims to identify critical variables essential for enhancing overall patient satisfaction, pinpointing key factors crucial for delivering quality service in any hospital.

Pattern of transcatheter interventional procedure have done in Cath lab and their immediate outcome: one year experience at Bangladesh Shishu hospital and institute

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is defined by structural and functional malformations of the heart. If CHD not managed through appropriate interventions, it affects quality of life of the individual and potential premature death. Objectives were assessing the frequency and pattern of interventional procedure done in Cath lab of paediatric cardiology department, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute and their immediate outcome. Methods: It was a cross sectional retrospective study. Total 56 patients of ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), pulmonary stenosis (PS), aortic stenosis (AS), coarctation of aorta, pulmonary atresia, TGA from January 2019 to December 2019 who underwent trans-catheter interventional procedure by author at Cath lab of paediatric cardiology department, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute were enrolled in this study. Results: Among 56 patients, PDA device closure done in 19, balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV) in 13 patients, device closure of ASD in 3 patients, device closure of VSD in 2 patients and balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in 1 patient. Two patients died; one is pulmonary atresia with PDA dependent pulmonary circulation following ductal stenting another is d-TGA intact IVS with PFO following BAS. One PDA device embolized and retrieved surgically from main and right pulmonary artery. Mean fluoroscopy time=17.29 and mean total procedure time=38.52 min. Conclusions: Trans-catheter interventional procedure for PS, coarctation of aorta, PDA, ASD, VSD, AS, d-TGA, Pulmonary atresia is a safe and some procedure such as BAS for d- TGA, BPV for critical PS, Ductal stenting for pulmonary atresia, Balloon angioplasty for severe coarctation of aorta with LV dysfunction is lifesaving with a low adverse event rate.

The Impact of Integration of a Genetic Clinic Into a Pediatric Cardiac Unit.

Previously published studies suggest that genetic or environmental causes can be observed in 20-30% of congenital heart disease (CHD) patients, which include aneuploidy, single gene defects, pathological copy number variations, and de novo autosomal dominant and recessive inheritance. Moreover, the genetic background of childhood cardiomyopathies (CMs) has not been elucidated well. The study highlights the value of genetic assessment in diagnosing and family counseling for CHD and pediatric CM patients referred to the genetic clinic in a pediatric cardiology department. The study involved patients less than 18 years of age attending the cardiogenetic clinic in the pediatric cardiology department between December 2010 and February 2019. The following patient categories who had genetic evaluation were included: CHD in the presence of a syndromic phenotype, patients with CHD having extracardiac congenital anomalies or delayed development, hypertrophic and dilated CM patients, patients with dilated aortic root and ascending aorta,significant CHD in siblings or first-degree relatives,suspected channelopathies; and interrupted aortic arch abnormalities. A total of 285 patients were evaluated in the cardiogenetic clinic. The mean age was 20.2 months, with a range of 0-168. Females and males constituted 153 (53.7%) and 132 (46.3%), respectively. The most commoncause of referral to the genetic clinic was the presence of CM (N=134 (46.3%)): hypertrophic CM in 24% and dilated CM in 20% of cases. Seventy-six patients (26.7%) had positive genetic results. The most common genetic abnormality was familial infantile hypertrophic CM-causing gene ELAC2 in 19 (23.5%) cases. It may be beneficial for any pediatric cardiology unit to provide an established genetic clinic. Using a genetic clinic will enhance understanding of CHD pathophysiology, family education, and genetic counseling. Agreement on a well-written protocol and the way forward to specify what congenital heart conditions require genetic investigation should be clarified.

Trans-Catheter Palliation in Tetralogy of Fallot Patients: Complications & Challenges

Objective: To identify the complications of Transcatheter palliation in Tetralogy of Fallot patients. Study Design: Analytical Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Paediatric Cardiology Department, AFIC/NIHD, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul to Dec 2022. Methodology: This Analytical Cross-sectional study was conducted in n=54 patients of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) who underwent Transcatheter palliation procedure. Cases were selected by using non-probability consecutive sampling. Patients with isolated pulmonary stenosis, complex congenital heart and Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia were excluded from the study. Data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version-24:00. In descriptive statistics, Mean±SD were calculated for continuous variables while frequency (%) for categorical variables. To find out the association between categorical variables, Chi-square test was used. p-value of <0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: Out of 54 patients, 32(59.3%) were males and females were 22(40.7%). Mean age was 11.87±7.34 months. Right ventricular outflow tract ballooning was done in 39(72.2%) and right ventricular outflow tract stenting was done in 15(27.8%) patients. Transient arrhythmias 28(51.9%) were the most commonly encountered complications. Conclusion: Transcatheter palliation is becoming the first line of management in Tetralogy of Fallot patients because of better outcomes, ease of performance and safety profile. Working professionally can yield a safe invasive procedure of balloon pulmonary valvotomy and stenting in these patients.

Feasibility of transcatheter device closure of secundum atrial septal defect under transthoracic echocardiography guidance.

Objective: To determine the usefulness and safety of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) imaging for real time guidance in transcatheter device closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) secundum. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, CPEIC, Multan, Pakistan. Period: January 2022 to December 2023. Material & Methods: Patients of both genders aged above 3 years with clinical and echocardiographic evidence of ASD secundum with significant left to right shunt were analysed. All cases had morphologically suitable margins of defect confirmed on TTE. Usefulness and safety of intra-procedure and immediate post-procedure transcatheter device closure of secundum ASD were noted. Results: In a total of 34 patients, 20 (58.8%) were female and 14 (41.2%) male. The mean age was 21.32±17.21 years. The TTE findings revealed that the mean ASD side was 17.47±4.32 mm. Aortic margins were deficient among 28 (82.4%) cases. The mean fluoroscopy and procedure time were 9.29±6.98 minutes and 49.91±39.76. Residual leak was noted in one (2.9%) cases while none of the cases were observed to have superior vena cava, inferior vena cava or pulmonary vein obstructions. Post-procedure, transient supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) arrhythmia was the most common type of complication reported among 2 (5.9%) cases. None of the cases needed any kind of emergency surgical exploration. No cases of pericardial effusion were found. No mortality was reported. Conclusion: Transcatheter device closure of secundum atrial septal defect was found to be effective and safe using TTE.

Associations between Selected ADRB1 and CYP2D6 Gene Polymorphisms in Children with Ventricular and Supraventricular Arrhythmias.

Background and Objectives: Tachycardia is a common cardiovascular disease. Drugs blocking β1-adrenergic receptors (ADRB1) are used in the therapy of arrhythmogenic heart diseases. Disease-related polymorphisms can be observed within the ADRB1 gene. The two most important are Ser49Gly and Arg389Gly, and they influence the treatment efficacy. The family of the cytochrome P450 system consists of the isoenzyme CYP2D6 (Debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase), which is involved in phase I metabolism of almost 25% of clinically important drugs, including antiarrhythmic drugs. A study was conducted to detect the ADRB1 and CYP2D6 gene polymorphisms. Materials and Methods: The material for the test was whole blood from 30 patients with ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia and 20 controls. The samples were obtained from the Department of Pediatric Cardiology. The first to be made was the extraction of DNA using a GeneMATRIX Quick Blood DNA Purification Kit from EURx. The selected ADRB1 and CYP2D6 gene polymorphisms were detected by high-resolution melting polymerase chain reaction (HRM-PCR) analysis. Results: Based on the analysis of melt profile data for each PCR product, the identification of polymorphisms was carried out. Heterozygotes and homozygotes were found in the examined alleles. Conclusions: The frequency of the Arg389Gly polymorphism differs statistically significantly between the control group and patients with supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, as well as between these two groups of patients. Moreover, the Arg389Gly polymorphism was statistically more prevalent in the group of girls with SVT arrhythmia compared to girls with VT. A few carriers of homozygous and heterozygous systems of the S49G polymorphism were detected among patients with arrhythmias, as well as control group. The percentage of individuals carrying the CYP2D6 4 allele as either homozygous or heterozygous was observed in the study and control groups. The high prevalence of the CYP2D6*4 allele carriers in both groups prompts the optimization of beta-1 blocker therapy.

Incidence, clinical profile and short term outcome of cerebral abscess in cyanotic congenital heart diseases

BackgroundBrain abscess is a serious infection of brain parenchyma in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) and around 25–46 % of unrepaired CCHD patients develop brain abscess. Aim of this study was to determine the incidence, clinical features, microbiology and factors associated with early and short term outcome of cerebral abscess in CCHD. Methodology: This is a retrospective study, conducted at Pediatric cardiology department, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Karachi. The data was collected from January 2019 to December 2021. All CCHD patients between 1 and 25 years of age were included. Data of patients with cerebral abscess was reviewed. ResultsAmong the 544 pediatric patients hospitalized in the last two years, brain abscesses were identified in 51 (9.3 %). Polycythemia (31.4 %) was the most significant contributing factor, especially in patients aged above 10 years. The most frequently seen CCHD was tetralogy of fallot (TOF) 60.8 %. Majority of the patients (84.3 %) had a single abscess while 15.7 % had multiple abscesses. E coli (9.7 %) was the most common isolated pathogen. Immediate complication identified was cerebral edema in 22 (43.1 %). Four patients (7.8 %) died, 47 (92.2 %) patients completed treatment course. 45.1 % had complete recovery however, 17 (33.3 %) had neurological deficits, 8 (15.7 %) had seizures and 2 (3.9 %) patients had residual abscess. Prolonged hospitalization was observed in patients of age group <10 years. ConclusionIn patients with underlying CCHD,early referrals and intervention are key to mitigating the severe consequences of cerebral abscesses and can drastically improve patient outcomes.

The Burden of Neonatal Referrals on a Pediatric Cardiology Service: A Local Center Experience.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a common occurrence in live births, with some exhibiting critical congenital heart disease; therefore, cardiology services should be available around the clock to ensure timely diagnosis and management. This study aims to describe the workload and the need for pediatric cardiac services in a maternity hospital for newborn referrals. Moreover, the study describes the indications for neonatal cardiology consultations. The prospective cohort study was conducted over four months, from January to April 2022, in the Prince Sultan Cardiac Center Al Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Prince Sultan Cardiac Center's pediatric cardiology department provides cardiac services to the Maternity and Children Hospital Buraidah Al Qassim. Out of the total 2,606 live births during the study period, the cardiology team evaluated 352 neonates. Neonates less than 30 days of age who were born in the maternity hospital were enrolled in the study. The outborn babies referred from other centers as suspected congenital heart disease for whom a cardiac evaluation was done were excluded. In addition, babies assessed in the emergency room and born elsewhere were excluded. Only new consultations have been considered, excluding follow-up consultations. Data about patients' demographic, clinical and echocardiographic findings were recorded on Google Forms and converted to a Google spreadsheet. The Google spreadsheet's inbuilt statistical software was used for analysis. Categorical data were presented as percentages, and numerical data as median and range. The cardiology team evaluated 352 neonates from 2,606 live births over four months, accounting for 13.5 per 100 live births. The median weight was 2.8 kilograms, with a 0.5-4.3 kilogram range. Males comprised 187 (53%), and females comprised 165 (47%). Moreover, full-term, preterm, and post-term accounted for 236 (67%), 113 (32%), and 3 (0.8%) of patients, respectively. The common indications for neonatal cardiac referral were respiratory distress 60 (17%), infants born to diabetic mothers 50 (14%), abnormal fetal echocardiogram 49 (13.9%), family history of abortion or neonatal death 31 (8.8%), and congenital anomalies 30 (8.5%). Systolic murmur was the commonest clinical finding that prompted cardiology referrals 82 (23.2%), followed by desaturation 38 (10.7%) and dysmorphic features 31 (8.8%). Among the congenital cardiac defects, an isolated atrial septal defect (ASD) was seen in 66 (18.5%), isolated patent ductus arteriosus in 50 (14.2%), and ventricular septal defect in 21 (5.9%). Moreover, 13 (4.4%) lesions were critical CHDs. Finally, 27 (7.6%) had adiagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. Knowing the burden of neonatal cardiac assessment on pediatric cardiology services in any maternity center may help the healthcare authorities to allocate resources and optimize the delivery of cardiac services among the neonatal population. Properly allocating pediatric cardiologists to the needed centers may optimize neonatal cardiac services. Moreover, it may decide on the number of pediatric cardiologists that need to be trained each year to meet the requirements of neonatal cardiac services.

Factors linked with the delayed diagnosis of congenital heart diseases. A single center experience from a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan.

Objective: To note the factors linked with delayed diagnosis of congenital heart diseases (CHDs) among children. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan. Period: September 2022 to February 2023. Material &amp; Methods: We analyzed children aged up to 15 years who presented for the first time with echocardiographic evidence for the diagnosis of CHDs. Socio-demographic data along with clinical information like gender, age, residential status, maternal education status, history of maternal fetal echocardiography and the frequency of delayed diagnosis of CHDs were noted on a specially made proforma. Parent or guardians were asked for possible reasons of delayed diagnosis for CHDs. Results: In a total of 250 children, the mean age was 2.33±3.81 years while 162 (64.8%) children were aged below 2 years. There were 138 (55.2%) boys. Residential status of 159 (63.6%) children was rural while maternal educational status of 99 (39.6%) was illiterate. There were 164 (65.6%) children who were diagnosed to have cyanotic CHDs while 86 (34.4%) had acyanotic CHDs. Frequency of delayed diagnosis was noted among 182 (72.8%) children. In these 182 cases, delayed first consultation was the commonest factor behind delayed diagnosis noted in 78 (42.9%) children while missed diagnosis by the pediatrician was the 2nd most common factors linked with the delayed diagnosis of CHDs as described by 62 (34.1%) parents. Conclusion: Almost 3/4th of the studied children had delayed diagnosis of CHDs while cyanotic CHDs were the most common CHD types. Delayed first consultant and missed diagnosis by the pediatrician were the most common factors linked with delayed diagnosis of CHDs.

Clinical profile of infective endocarditis: a single centre experience

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is an illness which still has a high rate of morbidity and mortality despite the availability of improved diagnostic and treatment amenities in the developing world. With an increasing number of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing corrective treatments, improved pediatric intensive care, better antimicrobial treatments, and a relative decrease in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) over the years, the epidemiology of pediatric IE in Bangladesh may be undergoing a change. The present study aims to describe the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory profile and outcome of IE among selected patients. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 35 patient of IE from January 2020 to December 2021, who were admitted in pediatric cardiology department, Bangladesh Shishu hospital and institute were enrolled in this study which was diagnosed according to modified Duke criteria. Results: There were 35 children diagnosed with IE during this period. The mean age at presentation was 84 months (range: 2-216 months). CHD (n=28/35, 80%) was the most common predisposing condition. A total of 20 % (7/35) patients had no preexisting structural heart disease. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common etiological agent. Blood culture positive IE was (n=18, 51.4%), blood culture-negative IE was (n=17, 48.6 %). Six patients (17.1%) died during the hospital stay. Conclusions: Increasingly younger children are being diagnosed with IE in Bangladesh and a significant number of them are in the setting of a structurally normal heart.

Percutaneous Transcatheter Retrieval of Central Venous Port Fragments in Pediatric Patients; A Single-center Experience From the Pediatric Cardiology Department.

Split/fracture and embolization of central venous/shunt catheters are rare but serious complications in children. Percutaneous retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies is an important minimal invasive treatment. This study is aimed to represent our largest pediatric sample experience till now of 17 years from a single institution. Another aim is to compare the results regarding the removal or leaving in place of embolized or ruptured intravascular or cardiac venous catheter parts in children. A total of 26 cases were included in this study. Any pediatric patient with normal coagulation parameters and a fractured catheter fragment was included in this study. Other intravascular foreign bodies related to interventional devices and/or pacemaker/implantable cardiac defibrillator leads were excluded from this study. Twenty-six patients, of whom 25 had oncologic diseases and 1 had a ventriculoatrial shunt, were included. The median age was 83.5 months (between 20 mo and 18 y) at treatment.Superior vena cava (9 cases), followed by the right atrium (5 cases), were the most two common sites of embolization for cardiovascular foreign bodies. The success rate of percutaneous retrieval was 92.3% in all patients. There were neither complications nor deaths. The retrieval technique revealed a predisposition for extraction through the femoral vein (96.1%) and using snare techniques (100%). Additional catheters like pigtail, National Institutes of Health, or ablation catheters were used for stabilization in selective cases in which the permanent central venous fragments stuck to the vessels. A tractional maneuver and capturing the ruptured material in the middle were other trick points for successful retrieval. Patients were asymptomatic in 76.9% of cases (20/26). Percutaneous retrieval of cardiovascular foreign bodies is a reasonable, safe, and effective way in children when the catheter fragments are free and mobile. It should be considered the preferred treatment option instead of surgery. In patients where catheter fragments are stuck and are adherent to vessels, it could be left, and followed up by anticoagulation. Novel techniques accompanied by an experienced team could be helpful in difficult cases.

Investigation of the presence of atopy in children visiting the paediatric cardiology department due to chest pain.

The cases of chest pain in children are usually not of cardiac origin. To investigate asthma and other atopic diseases in children with chest pain not of cardiac origin. Children aged 6-18 years who were seen for chest pain were included in the study. Haematologic parameters, pulmonary function tests, and skin prick tests were performed. Atopic diseases and environmental factors were investigated. The non-cardiac chest pain group (Group 1) included 88 children (female: 53.4%) with a mean age of 11.9 ± 3.4 years; the control group (Group 2) included 29 children (female: 53.8%) with a mean age of 11.4±2 years (p > 0.05). A family history of atopy (22.7%) and skin prick test positivity (28.4%) was more common in Group 1 than Group 2 (p = 0.006 and p = 0.017, respectively). The rate of presence of all environmental factors except stove use and mould was significantly higher in Group 1 (54.5%) than Group 2 (3.4%) (p < 0.001). Asthma was diagnosed in 44.3% and allergic rhinitis in 9.1% of patients in Group 1. Idiopathic chest pain, musculoskeletal system disorders, gastroesophageal reflux, and pneumonia were identified in 23.9%, 11.4%, 8%, and 3.4% of patients in Group 1, respectively. In this study, the most common cause of non-cardiac chest pain was asthma. The local prevalence of asthma is higher than normal, and this may have affected the results of this study. A detailed history and physical examination will accurately establish the cause of chest pain in most children.

Pattern of Congenital Heart Diseases among Less than 5 Years Old Children of Bangladesh-An Observational Study from a Pediatric Cardiac Center

Introduction: Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common congenital problems. CHD is about 25% of all congenital malformations and is the most common type of heart disease among children. It may present in different ages from birth to adolescence. Worldwide, CHD is relatively common with a prevalence ranging from 1.0-6.6 per 1000 live births. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to find out the pattern of congenital heart diseases among less than 5 years old Children of a pediatric cardiac center. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study and conducted in the Department of pediatric cardiology of Combined Military Hospital Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from July, 2018 to July, 2020. A total of 1000 patients from outdoor and indoor patient registry who were diagnosed and treated as a case of congenital heart disease within the mentioned period were included in the study. Result: Majority of our patients was male (58%) compared to female (42%). Among all patients, 29.80% had VSD, followed by 20.4% &amp; 14.9% had ASD &amp; TOF respectively and 72% &amp; 28% of our patients had Acyanotic &amp; cyanotic CHD respectively.VSD &amp; TOF was the most common in patients with acyanotic &amp; cyanotic CHD respectively. Recurrent RTI, pneumonia, heart failure, infective endocarditis, and Cyanotic spell are common complications of congenital heart disease. Down syndrome and congenital rubella syndrome are the main syndromic association in congenital heart diseases. The majority (97%) of our patients improved, and 3% died. Conclusion: Our study focuses on the congenital heart diseases of children of Bangladesh. Among the acyanotic congenital heart disease, VSD is the maximum &amp; among the cyanotic congenital heart disease TOF is the highest in number. With early diagnosis, treatment and regular follow up, mortality rate is very low and the prognosis is excellent.

Comparison of Short-Term Outcomes of Transcatheter versus Surgical Closure of Atrial Septum Defect at a Tertiary Cardiac Care Facility

Objective: To compare the short-term outcomes of transcatheter versus surgical closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) at a tertiary cardiac care facility in South Punjab, Pakistan.&#x0D; Study Design: Prospective comparative study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, Chaudhary Pervez Elahi Institute of Cardiology, Multan Pakistan, from Jul 2019 to Jun 2021.&#x0D; Methodology: A total of 110 patients with moderate to large isolated secundum ASDs without severe pulmonary hypertension and planned to undergo closure of secundum ASD by either surgical approach or device closure were included. All surgical and transcatheter procedures were performed adopting standard techniques. Intra-procedural or post-procedural outcomes were noted.&#x0D; Results: In a total of 110 patients, 59(53.6%) underwent transcatheter closure of ASD, while surgical closure was done in the remaining 51(46.4%) patients. Post-procedural complications were significantly more in the Surgical Closure Group in comparison to the Transcatheter Closure Group, [14(27.5%) vs 5(8.5%) (p=0.026)]. None of the cases in the Transcatheter Closure Group required inotropes in the post-procedure period in comparison to 24(47.1%) cases (p&lt;0.001). The total cost of treatment was significantly higher in transcatheter closure patients compared to surgical closure patients (1504±60.4 US$ versus 1448±75.4 US$, p&lt;0.001). Overall, successful closure was noted in 108(98.2%) cases. No mortality was recorded.&#x0D; Conclusion: Overall, short-term outcomes of transcatheter ASD closure were comparable to the surgical approach, but patients with transcatheter ASD closure had significantly less duration of hospitalization and low rates of post-procedural complications.Keywords: Atrial septum defect, Mortality, Surgical closure, Transcatheter closure.

Relationship Between Transthoracic Echocardiography and Transesophageal Echocardiography in the Anatomic and Hemodynamic Assessment of Secundum Atrial Septal Defects in Children and Adults

Objective: To determine the relationship between transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in the anatomic and hemodynamic assessment of secundum atrial septal defects in children and adults.&#x0D; Study Design: Cross-sectional study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatric Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi Pakistan, from Jul 2020 to Jun 2021.&#x0D; Methodology: Seventy-seven patients above three years of age with secundum atrial septal defects were included. Linear regression was used to determine any statistically significant difference between transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography approaches.&#x0D; Results: Of 77 patients, there were 37(48.1%) male and 40(51.9%) female. No significant difference was noted in terms of any of the clinical parameters during transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography. As per transthoracic echocardiography, 35(45.5%) were noted to be deviceable, while in transesophageal echocardiography, 36(46.8%) patients were found to be deviceable (p=0.872). No emergency exploration or deaths occurred. Linear regression showed no statistically significant difference between transthoracic echocardiogram and transesophageal echocardiography findings in terms of atrial septal defects size (p=0.226), total septal length (p=0.930), RV systolic pressure (p=0.440), RV functions and TAPSE (0.748) except LV ejection fraction function findings (p&lt;0.001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Anatomic and hemodynamic assessment of secundum atrial septal defects in children and adults correlated well with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.

Prenatal diagnosis, 4D spatiotemporal image correlation imaging, pregnancy, and postnatal outcome of partial Uhl's anomaly.

Journal Article Accepted manuscript Prenatal diagnosis, 4D spatiotemporal image correlation imaging, pregnancy, and postnatal outcome of partial Uhl’s anomaly Get access Balaganesh Karmegaraj, DM Balaganesh Karmegaraj, DM Sowmi Fetal heart centre, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu and Fetal cardiology Division, Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Amrita institute of Medical Sciences and research centre, Kochi, Kerala, India Address for correspondence: Dr Balaganesh Karmegaraj MD., DM, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, AIMS Ponekkara PO, Kochi, Kerala, India Pin: 682 041, Tel: +91 484 285 3570 , Fax. +91 484 2802020, Mobile: +9197461 31803. Email: pedsheartkbg@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8728-2140 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging, jead133, https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjci/jead133 Published: 07 June 2023 Article history Received: 06 May 2023 Editorial decision: 04 June 2023 Accepted: 06 June 2023 Published: 07 June 2023

First results of maintenance of register in electronic form in pediatric patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background. The problem of managing children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains relevant due to the high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Registers of patients with HCM contribute to a better understanding of the course of the disease and its outcomes.Objective. To study the structure of CMP with a hypertrophic phenotype, as well as to identify clinical, molecular and genetic features of the course of HCM and outcome in children based on anamnestic, clinical and instrumental data from an electronic database.Design and method/ Currently, the database includes complete information on 80 children from 0 to 18 years of age inclusive with a hypertrophic phenotype of CMP. The study was performed on the basis of the Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Medical Rehabilitation of the V.A. Almazov” of the Ministry of Health of Russia. The database contains the history of the disease and family history, the results of clinical and laboratory-instrumental examination, the results of molecular genetic research. The register is dynamically updated.Results. The mean age of onset of HCM was 1.75 [0.02; 10.00] years. There were more boys than girls — 54 (67.5 %). The main complaints were decreased exercise tolerance in 35 (43.8 %) children and shortness of breath in 30 (37.5%) children. All children had signs of heart failure (HF): 53 (66.3 %) had signs of functional class 2 HF, 26 (32.5 %) — functional class 1 and 1 (1.2 %) — functional class 3. Ventricular arrhythmias were recorded in 23 (29 %) children, unstable ventricular tachycardia in 2 (2.5 %) children. Myocardial fibrosis of the left ventricle according to the results of MRI of the heart was found in 60.7 %. A lethal outcome was registered in 5 % (n = 4) of cases on average at 241 ± 117 days of life. All the deceased had phenocopies of HCM.Conclusion. Maintaining an electronic database of patients with HCM will allow a better understanding of the influence of factors, including genetic ones, on the course, outcomes, and prognosis of the disease in the pediatric population.