Right ventricular end-systolic area as a simple first-line marker predicting right ventricular enlargement and decreased systolic function in children referred for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

AIM: To assess the accuracy of simple cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) parameters for first-line analysis of right ventricle (RV) dysfunction in children to identify those who require in-depth analysis and those in whom simple assessment is sufficient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty paediatric CMR studies were analysed. The following CMR parameters were measured: RV end-diastolic and end-systolic area (4CH EDA and 4CH ESA), fractional area change (FAC), RV diameter in end-diastole (RVD1), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and RV outflow tract diameter in end-diastole (RVOT prox). They were correlated with RV end-diastolic volume (RVEDVI) and RV ejection fraction (RVEF). RESULTS: RVEDVI correlated best with 4CH ESA (r=0.85, <0.001) and EDA (r=0.82, <0.001). For RVEF only a moderate reverse correlation was found for 4CH ESA (-0.56, <0.001), 4CH EDA (-0.49, 0.001) and positive correlation for FAC (0.49, <0.001). There was no correlation between TAPSE and RVEF and only weak between RVD1 and RVEDVI. A 4CH ESA cut-off value of 8.5 cm2/m2 had a very high diagnostic accuracy for predicting an enlarged RV (AUC=0.912, p<0.001, sensitivity 92.3%, specificity 79%) and a cut-off value of 10.5 cm2/m2 was also a good predictor of depressed RV systolic function (AUC=0.873, p<0.001, sensitivity 83%, specificity 89%). CONCLUSION: For routine screening in clinical practice, 4CH ESA seems a reliable and easy method to identify patients with RV dysfunction.

External laryngeal injuries in children--comparison of diagnostic methods.

OBJECTIVES: The injuries of the larynx constitute around 1% of all injuries. The great majority of the injuries of the larynx happens during playing. The effects of these injuries may appear insignificant however, not always the direct clinical symptoms correlate with the degree of respiratory tract failure. The symptoms of laryngeal injuries depend on the extension and strength of the trauma and always relate to impair patency of respiratory tract. The aim of the study is to compare two diagnostic methods: laryngoscopy and ultrasonography in evaluation of laryngeal injuries in children. METHODS: In the Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Medical University of Warsaw, in the period between 2004 and 2010 there were hospitalised 15 children with external injury of the larynx. RESULTS: From among 15 hospitalized children, 7 were qualified as not serious trauma and were treated preservatively and the other 8 as sever trauma. The mechanism of traumas was diverse. Dyspnea was a predominating symptom, the others included hoarsness, change in voice quality, even aphonia, pain while speaking and swallowing, cough and hemoptysis. CONCLUSIONS: Direct laryngoscopy is a standard in diagnostics of the injuries of the larynx. Ultrasonography of the larynx is recommended in every case of laryngeal injury as an additional non-invasive complementary diagnostic examination.

Neck tumour - lung hernia in a 10-year-old girl - diagnostic difficulties.

Spontaneous hernias of the pleural cupola are extremely rare tumours in the neck area. The most common tumours in children are lymph node abnormalities, and cysts that are remnants of the branchial arches. Due to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties, we would like to present the case of a 10-year-old girl, with a neck tumour that was observed during coughing and was accompanied by dyspnea. The girl was admitted to the Paediatric Hospital of Warsaw Medical University. Finally, the neck tumour was diagnosed as a hernia of the pleural cupola, which was subsequently treated surgically. In a review of the literature we found two case reports of similar disorders that appeared spontaneously. All cases of neck tumours in children require very precise radiological diagnostic investigation. Spontaneous lung hernia is an extremely rare cause of neck tumours, which is treated surgically if it becomes symptomatic.

[Vesicoureteral refluxes in children during the first two years of life]. / Odplywy pecherzowo-moczowodowe u dzieci w pierwszych dwóch latach zycia.

Ninety-six children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) diagnosed by age 2 were studied. The most common indication for radiological visualization of the urinary tract was a urinary tract infection (UTI). Among 143 cases of VUR, 51% were unilateral and 49% were bilateral. Other urinary tract abnormalities coexisted with VUR in 14.6% of children. Abnormal USG result was found in 24% of children, including only 13.4% with VUR and other urinary tract abnormalities. Conservative treatment was chosen in 126 (88%) cases of VUR in 87.5% of children. Follow-up voiding cystourethrography was performed in 60.7% of children. Conservative treatment was successful in 68.6% of children. VUR disappeared in 70.9% of cases after mean follow-up of 13.7 months (including 76.2% cases of VUR grade II, 54.5% cases of VUR grade III and 50% cases of VUR grade I). Recurrent UTI and lack of improvement after conservative treatment were indications for surgical treatment in 9.8% of children. Recurrent UTI were observed in 15.6% of children (including 16.7% among those treated conservatively and 8.3% among those treated surgically) and their course was febrile in most cases.

Correlation between clinical, radiological and ultrasonographical image of knee joints in children with haemophilia.

The aims of the study were to evaluate the clinical, radiological and ultrasonographical images of knee joints in children with severe haemophilia and von Willebrand's disease, to determine the correlation between these images and to assess the usefulness of ultrasonography (USG) in evaluating the intensity of haemophilic arthropathy. Thirty-nine boys were included in the study, all of them with a past history of knee bleeds. The average age of the children was 10.02 +/- 3.01 years. In patients with slight (1-3 points) and moderate (4-7 points) radiological changes in knee joint bones, an increase in synovial fluid, considerable hypertrophy and inflammation of the synovium were observed in USG. In haemophilic patients with severe (8-13 points) bone changes, the amount of fluid was usually normal and there was slight inflammation but considerable hypertrophy of the synovium. Radiological evaluation of haemophilic arthropathy was made according to the Pettersson classification. A good correlation between the degree of cartilage damage in USG and the progression of bone changes in radiographs was found. Cartilage and bone damage progressed with the increase in the number of intra-articular haemorrhages into the knee joint. In our opinion USG is useful in evaluating the fluid, synovium and cartilage of joints in haemophiliacs.

Echocardiographic assessment of right atrial thrombus related to the implanted port device in patient receiving chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The case of a potentially life-threatening complication related to the use of implanted port device in a 8 year old Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma patient receiving chemotherapy is described. The device was inserted in early 1997 and used repeatedly for chemotherapy without any complications. In late 1997 during routine screening for cardiac left ventricular function before re-introduction of chemotherapy, an abnormal 1.43 x 1.53 cm mass, consistent with a non-mobile thrombus was found in the right atrium. The initial thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue plasmin activator (rt-PA) infused by a central venous catheter was combined with daily echocardiographic examination in order to assess both the timing and mode of thrombus resolution. After 8 days systemic fibrinolytic therapy was discontinued as major hemorrhage from venipuncture sites occurred and the clot dissolution was not obtained. Patient underwent right atriotomy utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass and subsequent surgical thrombus removal was successful. The study evaluated the contribution of two-dimensional echocardiography (2D) in the follow-up of vascuport and other central venous catheter (CVC) location and early diagnosis of related complications such as thrombi. The authors consider that pulmonary flow analyzed with Doppler echocardiography as a reliable, suitable and non-invasive method to evaluate increased pulmonary artery pressure in children with right atrial thrombi and probability of pulmonary microembolism or embolism. As the incidence of right atrial thrombi is highly associated with the catheter tip position in the right atrium, in contrast to their positioning in the superior vena cava or in its junction with the right atrium, the authors recommend that special attention and effort should be given to placing of the catheter tip in the superior vena cava or in its junction with the right atrium avoiding the right atrium during the implantation procedure. The surgical right atrium thrombus removal in patients with no clot dissolution despite systemic thrombolytic treatment underscores the importance of surgical therapy in treating this life-threatening complication of indwelling catheters.

[Right atrial thrombus complicating chemotherapy by central venous catheterization in a child with Hodgkin's disease]. / Zakrzepica prawego przedsionka serca u dziecka jako powiklanie chemioterapii przez cewnik w centralnym ukladzie zylnym.

The atrial catheter (subcutaneous port) was used in a 5 year old boy with Hodgkin's disease for the administration of antineoplastic agents and other drugs. Catheter was flushed daily or every 2 weeks with heparin solution (5 U/ml)). The complications including infection and occlusion were not observed in this patient during observation time. Routine echocardiography performed after eight months of usage of the catheter showed right atrial thrombus. Because of the failure of 14 days fibrinolytic therapy (Actylise) surgical thrombectomy was performed. Bacteriological culture of the surgical specimen was positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The post-operative period passed without complications. Follow-up echocardiography findings were normal. The probable reason of thrombus formation could be damage of the right atrium by stream of drugs or balloting ending of the catheter.