Heart transplantation in children with mitochondrial cardiomyopathy.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D Bonnet.
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The authors report two cases of stenosis of the superior caval canal after Mustard and Senning procedures for transposition of the great arteries in patients paced for atrial arrhythmia. During cardiac catheterisation, it was possible to treat the stenosis by perforation in one case and by balloon dilatation in the second, followed by the implantation of two stents to reestablish vascular patency. In one patient, two pacing catheters were implanted by an endovascular approach without complications three months after stenting; in the other case, epicardial pacing was required because the patient's condition could not wait for endothelialisation of the stent before implanting the pacing catheters. This technique of revascularisation may also be used in children with venous stenosis after implantation of endocavitary pacing catheters, in which the pacing system has to be changed.
Pericardium patches are commonly used for the repair of congenital heart diseases. Aneurysmal dilation is a complication specific to the use of pericardial patches. Preparation of the pericardium with glutharaldehyde is considered to avoid this risk. In the present case report, we describe the development of a giant aneurysm of a heterologous patch used for closure of a ventricular septal defect in a child aged 14 days.
The results of transcatheter balloon angioplasty in teenagers and adults with aortic recoarctation are uncertain. Therefore, there is a current trend to prefer a more complex procedure including the implantation of a stent. This study deals with 8 patients aged 7 to 25.3 years (median: 15 years), weighing 20 to 68 kg. (median: 57) and having undergone resection of an aortic coarctation during infancy (24 days to 4 years). All had their lower limb pulses diminished or abolished, elevated blood pressure at rest (and at exercise in the 5 tested patients), and left ventricular hypertrophy. MRI documented the lesion and helped to select seven patients whose stenosis was short and remote enough from the origin of the main aortic collateral. In one case, the decision to stent was taken as an emergent measure to treat an aortic dissection which appeared shortly after balloon dilatation. The effectiveness of the procedure was immediate in all patients with a 50% increase in diameter of the dilated area, total relief of the gradient, drop to normal values of the blood pressure. These good results persisted at follow-up (3-24 months) in 6 patients, with moderate hypertensive rebounds in the last 2. There were 2 technical problems (premature burst of the balloon, asymmetrical inflation of the stent like an "Eiffel Tower") that could finally be overcome and should no longer occur with the new specially designed so-called "BIB" balloons. Would long term follow-up confirm these early results, one should conclude that this method offers an attractive, safe and effective option to surgery for adolescents and adults with late recoarctation of the aorta.
Coronary artery obstruction is the main late complication of the so-called arterial switch operation designed to repair transpositions of the great arteries in newborn infants by switching the great vessels and transferring the coronary ostia onto the posterior vessel. Our aim was to study the links between myocardial perfusion and coronary artery anatomy after the arterial switch operation. Forty-five patients (5.863 years) underwent a 201Tl myocardial SPECT and a selective coronary artery angiography. The latter was normal in 20 children: 13 had also a normal myocardial scan but 7 had myocardial perfusion defects including 2 with angina who had a very low coronary reserve at positron emission tomography. Twenty-five patients had severe coronary artery lesions: 5 with a normal myocardial scan and 20 with perfusion defects. Twelve out of these 20 underwent surgical revascularization and the SPECT images went back to normal in all within 6 months after surgery. Specificity and sensitivity of myocardial SPECT in detecting coronary artery lesions were 78% and 69% whereas positive and negative predictive values were 74 and 73%. We conclude that myocardial SPECT imaging is not the right way to detect late post arterial switch coronary artery lesions. It is helpful in decision making as to submit these children to surgical revascularization and in assessing its postoperative effectiveness.
This study sought to evaluate the quality of life of surviving adults with univentricular heart and to determine the impact of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics on quality of life. The health records of 89 survivors with univentricular heart living in France at the time of the study were reviewed. They were 17 to 49 years old (median: 21). Sixty-seven patients answered the Duke questionnaire. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were similar in the responders and non-responders. The scores of patients who answered the questionnaire were compared with national norms. The impact of sociodemographic and clinical variables on individual Duke's measures was assessed. The Duke scores of adults with univentricular heart were similar to those of the normal population. Cyanosis predicted a worse score for physical (p = .05) and perceived health measures (p = .02). The higher educational level predicted a better score for physical (p .004), mental (p = .01), and general health measures (p = .02). Orthopaedic problems worsened social score (p = .05). Psychosocial problems worsened pain score (p = .04). Mitral atresia, in comparison with the other anatomical types, worsened perceived health score (p = .02). Finally, patients younger than 23 years scored better for almost all of health and dysfunction measures. In conclusion, despite repeated interventions and other disease-related everyday stresses, a selected group of adults with univentricular heart had a satisfying quality of life. These patients probably developed copying mechanisms, easing the psychological stress, and oriented themselves towards a different set of values in everyday life so that to accept disabilities and to recalibrate personal expectations.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is a rare and unrecognised complication of propionic acidosis. It usually progresses to chronic cardiac failure with a poor prognosis. The authors report three cases of cardiomyopathy due to this condition. One of the children underwent liver transplantation which cured the cardiac complication.
The long term follow-up after successful coarctation repair has a late cardiovascular morbidity, includes systemic hypertension at rest or/and after exercise. The pathophysiology mechanisms responsible have not been well determined. We studied 70 normotensive subjects at rest (age, 14 +/- 5 y; pressure, 116 +/- 13/56 +/- 9 mmHg), who had an isolated coarctation with a good repair defined by the absence of gradient between upper and lower right limb (0.-26 mmHg). After exercise testing we defined two groups: Coa HT: Hypertension at exercise equal or over 200 mmHg, n = 20 (228 +/- 23 mmHg) and Coa HT: Normotensive at exercise = 10 (163 +/- 24 mmHg). These subjects were mached sex-age and blood pressure to 70 controls (age, 13 +/- 3 y; pressure, 115 +/- 10/56 +/- 6 mmHg). Using a high-resolution echographic technique, we assessed the systolic, diastolic diameter and the intima media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) to define mechanical indexes: Cross sectional compliance (CSC), distensibility (CSD) and incremental elastic modulus (Einc) in each group. CCA pressure waveform and the local pulse pressure were determined in 32 subjects to define augmentation index (AI). The changes of the brachial artery diameter in response to reactive hyperaemia (flow mediated dilation: FDM) and to glyceryltrinitrate (GTNMD) were measured. The IMT was significantly increased in the Coa group (by 8%, p < 0.001) and higher in the Coa HT group compared with the Coa NT group (0.57 +/- 0.04 mm vs 0.54 +/- 0.05 mm, p < 0.05). The CSD was lower and the Einc was higher in both groups. The carotid pulse pressure amplitude was significantly higher in the Coa HT Group (41 +/- 14 vs 33 +/- 7 mmHg; p < 0.05). The AI was higher in both Coa repair groups. Both flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and GTN-mediated dilation (GTNMD) of the brachial artery were lower in the Coa group (respectively 5 +/- 3 vs 7 +/- 3%; p < 0.01; 16 +/- 8 vs 23 +/- 9%; p < 0.01). GTNMD was inversely correlated with maximum systolic blood pressure on exercise (r = 0.31, p = 0.03). The IMT of the CCA was related to the local pulse pressure in both groups of coarctation repair. The combination of distensibility decrease in the proximal arterial bed with an impairment of distal artery reactivity would account for the elevation of exercise blood pressure in subjects who had coarctation repair. The increase of local pulse pressure influences the carotid wall hypertrophy.
Medical therapy for chronic heart failure has recently been extensively revised on the basis of a reduction of mortality in randomized trials. However, there are almost no available trials in children whose treatment for heart failure is adapted from what is known in adults. Digitalis play a role in heart rate variability but there is no evidence for an effect on mortality. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors lead to an improvement of left ventricular function and reduces mortality; in addition, they are well tolerated in children. Diuretics are useful in congestive heart failure but chronic administration may have deleterious effects. Beta-blocking agents reduce mortality and improve symptoms and the ejection fraction; however, they must be given cautiously and the up-titration phase must be very progressive. New promising drugs are emerging (calcium sensitizers, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, angiotensin receptor [AT1] blockers) but at the present time their use in chronic heart failure has not proven to be efficient.
BACKGROUND: Valved conduits from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery are frequently used in paediatric cardiac surgery. However, stenosis and insufficiency of the conduit usually occur in the follow-up and lead to reoperations. Conduit stenting can delay surgical replacement, but it aggravates pulmonary insufficiency. We developed an innovative system for percutaneous stent implantation combined with valve replacement. METHODS: A 12-year-old boy with stenosis and insufficiency of a prosthetic conduit from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery underwent percutaneous implantation of a bovine jugular valve in the conduit. FINDINGS: Angiography, haemodynamic assessment, and echocardiography after the procedure showed no insufficiency of the implanted valve, and partial relief of the conduit stenosis. There were no complications after 1 month of follow-up, and the patient is presently in good physical condition. INTERPRETATION: We have shown that percutaneous valve replacement in the pulmonary position is possible. With further technical improvements, this new technique might also be used for valve replacement in other cardiac and non-cardiac positions.
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary regurgitation can lead to severe right ventricular dysfunction, which is a delicate postoperative problem in the long-term follow-up of patients who had surgery for congenital heart diseases. Clinical conditions of patients suffering from pulmonary valve incompetence are improved by valve replacement with a prosthetic valve. To date, the surgical approach is the only option to replace a pulmonary valve. We report the first experience of percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: A fresh bovine jugular vein containing a native valve was sutured into a vascular stent and then cross-linked with a 0.6% glutaraldehyde solution for 36 hours. After being hand-crimped onto a balloon catheter, the device was inserted percutaneously according to standard stent-placing techniques. The valved stent was finally deployed in the position of the native pulmonary valve of the lamb. Hemodynamic evaluation was carried out before and 2 months after implantation. Anatomic evaluation was finally performed. Percutaneous pulmonary valve replacement was successful in 5 lambs. No complications were noted. Early and late angiographic and hemodynamic studies confirmed a good position of the stents with a competent valve at the end of the protocol. One stent was slightly stenotic, with macroscopically visible calcifications. CONCLUSIONS: Nonsurgical implantation of pulmonary valves is possible in the lamb. This new technique is similar to standard stent implantation. Thus, it should be feasible in humans, in whom it will lead to a significant reduction of reoperations in patients in need of pulmonary valve replacement.
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UNLABELLED: Central venous access is a frequent procedure in pediatric intensive care and neonatology. Catheter fracture with migration of the distal portion into the vessels is rare but may have side effects such as thrombosis. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a premature infant who had at three weeks of age a retained central venous catheter fragment in the pulmonary artery. The fragment was successfully retrieved by a percutaneous endovascular technique. No complication was observed during the procedure and afterward. CONCLUSION: This technique has avoided either delicate surgery or thrombotic risk due to a persistent intravascular foreign body. The authors prompted this interventional procedure within 36 hours after catheter migration in a center experienced in neonatal interventional catheterization.
BACKGROUND: The maximal diameter of the defect and the dimensions of the septal rims are essential parameters for the selection of optimal cases for device closure. Neither two-dimensional echocardiography nor balloon catheter sizing provide optimal data. Unique three-dimensional echocardiography might help to improve patient selection and assessment of results. Our aim was to optimize transcatheter closure of secundum type atrial septal defects using three-dimensional echocardiography. METHODS: Sixteen patients enrolled in a protocol for atrial septal defect transcatheter closure with the Cardioseal device underwent transoesophageal two- and three-dimensional echocardiography. Maximal diameter and tissue rim of the atrial septal defect were measured and compared by both methods. In the 12 patients selected for closure, the balloon stretched diameter was compared to three-dimensional echocardiography measurements. Device placement was assessed by two- and three-dimensional echocardiography. RESULTS: The shape of the atrial septal defect appeared variable on three-dimensional views: round in nine patients but complex (oval, raquet-shaped, multiple) in seven patients. The surface area of the atrial septal defect varied by 68+/-15% during the cardiac cycle. The correlation between atrial septal defect maximal diameters measured by two-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography and three-dimensional echocardiography was better in round defects (y=1 x +1.6, r=0.99) than in complex defects (y=0.7 x -0.5, r=0.88). The antero-superior rim could only be properly assessed by three-dimensional echocardiography. In 12 patients the correlation between stretched diameter and three-dimensional echocardiography maximal diameter was poor (y=0.3 x +13, r=0.41). After placement of the device, three-dimensional echocardiography enabled the mechanism of residual shunting to be understood in three patients. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic three-dimensional echocardiography enhances the understanding of the anatomy and physiology of atrial septal defect and should be an important process in future initiatives for device closures.
The results of epicardial pacing in infants with isolated congenital complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) are reported. Thirty-four patients, aged 1 day to 20 months (22 patients < 1 month), were paced between 1988 and 1998. Thirty had bradycardia < 50 beats/min with symptoms in 12 patients, and 4 patients were paced because of associated ventricular ectopy or prolonged QT interval. In thirty cases, the electrodes were implanted through a left thoracotomy and connected to an abdominal generator; in four, the subxyphoid approach was preferred. Twenty-two children had dual chamber units. There was no operative death, but three patients died later of cardiomyopathy. Seven infants were reoperated for electrode displacement, infection, exit block, and pacemaker sensitivity. Chronic ventricular thresholds ranged from 0.3 to 2 V except in one case (4 V) and proper atrial sensing was lost in two cases. All children are doing well and the generator has lasted at least 5 years in 16 cases. In conclusion, epicardial pacing in infants with CAVB can be done with satisfactory results. There was no mortality in relation with pacing and thresholds have improved with the use of steroid-eluting electrodes. The deep location of the generator prevents cutaneous erosion and allows implantation of large units with a longer life duration.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether arterial wall hypertrophy in elastic arteries was associated with alteration in their mechanical properties in young patients with Williams syndrome. METHODS: Arterial pressure and intima-media thickness, cross sectional compliance, distensibility, circumferential wall stress, and incremental elastic modulus of the common carotid artery were measured non-invasively in 21 Williams patients (mean (SD) age 8.5 (4) years) and 21 children of similar age. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher in Williams patients (125/66 v 113/60 mm Hg, p < 0.05). The mean (SD) intima-media thickness was increased in Williams patients, at 0.6 (0.07) v 0.5 (0.03) mm (p < 0. 001). Normotensive Williams patients had a lower circumferential wall stress (2.1 (0.5) v 3.0 (0.7) mm Hg, p < 0.01), a higher distensibility (1.1 (0.3) v 0.8 (0.3) mm Hg(-1).10(-2), p < 0.01), similar cross sectional compliance (0.14 (0.04) v 0.15 (0.05) mm(2). mm Hg(-1), p > 0.05), and lower incremental elastic modulus (7.4 (2. 0) v 14.0 (5.0) mm Hg.10(2); p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The compliance of the large elastic arteries is not modified in Williams syndrome, even though increased intima-media thickness and lower arterial stiffness are consistent features. Therefore systemic hypertension cannot be attributed to impaired compliance of the arterial tree in this condition.
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