BACKGROUND AND AIM: The aim of this study is to show the changes in left ventricular morphology and function after reductive annuloplasty of double mitral and tricuspid orifices (RADO) in ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and primary dilated cardiomyopathy (PDCM) analyzed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). METHODS: There were 274 patients, mean age 50.1 years, 188 operated due to IDCM with ejection fraction under 30%, and 86 patients due to PDCM. Mitral annuloplasty according to A. Carpentier and our own procedure was done in 49 and 225 patients, respectively. In 265 cases (97%) our modified De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty was performed. RESULTS CONCLUSION: RADO significantly changes left ventricular morphology, reverses remodeling of the heart, decreases sphericity of the left heart, improves hemodynamic function of both ventricles, and slows down progression of cardiac failure. We recommend RADO in the early stage of PDCM, immediately after the first decompensation, and as an important associated procedure in IDCM.

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated↗

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[Work with parents of children with chronic illness or developmental disability].

INTRODUCTION: It is more and more important to work with parents of disabled children or children with chronic illness. PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to investigate mother's presence during hospitalization in regard to the child's handicap. We also wanted to establish if parents were trained to work with children with developmental disabilities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In order to learn if parents of disables or chronically ill children were trained to help them, parents of 99 children hospitalized at Principovac Hospital were asked to fill out a questionnaire. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: It was established that parents of children with multiple disabilities were best trained, whereas parents of mentally handicapped children were the least trained. Parents of physically handicapped children (63.6%) and children with multiple disability (63%) were mostly present during hospitalization.

Adolescent↗

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