Cavernous hemangioma of the right atrium.

A 42-year-old woman was diagnosed during the 3rd month of pregnancy with a large right atrial tumor. Three weeks after successful completion of a full-term pregnancy, she was admitted and underwent surgical removal of the tumor. Postoperative course was uneventful and pathology showed cavernous hemangioma. These neoplasms should be removed in order to prevent severe arrhythmias as also potential malignant transformation.

OC21 - Psychosocial functioning of parents of infants diagnosed with complex congenital heart defect.

UNLABELLED: Theme: Parenting/parenthood. INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of complex CHD impacts the psychosocial status of parents and their functioning. PURPOSE: A critical evaluation of the literature concerning the psychosocial parental response to their infant's diagnosis of complex CHD. METHODS: Systematic review of 18 articles published after 2000 in PubMed and CINAHL. RESULTS: The impact of an infant's CHD on the family functioning is determined both by child's medical condition and family's psychosocial factors. The majority of parents experience intense loss and numerous stressors. Nurses and physicians need to be sensitive to the needs, thoughts and experiences of the parents when discussing treatment options. Families with poor social support networks may have the greatest need for professional interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate interventions assist the majority of parents to adapt to the diagnosis of complex CHD. However, there are a number of parents with an increased psychosocial risk associated with higher rates of emotional distress.

Ross procedure in a child with Aspergillus endocarditis and bicuspid aortic valve.

The case is presented of a previously healthy infant with a known asymptomatic bicuspid aortic valve who developed fungal endocarditis. The patient underwent aortic root replacement with a pulmonary autograft (Ross procedure). Cultured operative material revealed Aspergillus infection. The patient had an excellent recovery and remained well one year later.

Diversity of congenital cardiac defects and skeletal deformities associated with the Holt-Oram syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The Holt-Oram syndrome is a rare congenital disorder involving the skeletal and cardiovascular systems. It is characterized by upper limb deformities and cardiac malformations, atrial septal defects in particular. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Four consecutive patients 1-15 years old with the Holt-Oram syndrome presented over a 10 year span for surgical treatment of their cardiac maladies. The spectrum of the heart defects and skeletal deformities encountered in these patients are described and discussed. DISCUSSION: The Holt-Oram syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition; however absence of the morphological features of the trait in close family members is not rare. Although patients are known to predominately present with atrial septal defects, other cardiovascular anomalies, including rhythm abnormalities, are not uncommon. Skeletal disorders vary as well. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular disorders, skeletal malformations and familial expression of the Holt-Oram syndrome, vary widely.

Postcardiotomy mechanical circulatory support in two infants with williams' syndrome.

Supravalvar aortic stenosis (SVAS) in patients with Williams' syndrome is often accompanied by coronary, pulmonary, and even myocardial lesions and therefore associated with increased perioperative morbidity and mortality. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provides reliable short-term mechanical circulatory support to patients, especially young, in acute postoperative cardiac failure when conventional means are ineffective. The incorporation of centrifugal pumps in these systems has made their use more efficient and less traumatic. We describe our experience of using the Levitronix CentriMag pump in two patients with Williams' syndrome who underwent surgical correction of supravalvular aortic stenosis.