Early hybrid cardiac rehabilitation in congenital heart disease: the QUALIREHAB trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cardiopulmonary fitness in congenital heart disease (CHD) decreases faster than in the general population resulting in impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). As the standard of care seems insufficient to encourage and maintain fitness, an early hybrid cardiac rehabilitation programme could improve HRQoL in CHD. METHODS: The QUALIREHAB multicentre, randomized, controlled trial evaluated and implemented a 12-week centre- and home-based hybrid cardiac rehabilitation programme, including multidisciplinary care and physical activity sessions. Adolescent and young adult CHD patients with impaired cardiopulmonary fitness were randomly assigned to either the intervention (i.e. cardiac rehabilitation) or the standard of care. The primary outcome was the change in HRQoL from baseline to 12-month follow-up in an intention-to-treat analysis. The secondary outcomes were the change in cardiovascular parameters, cardiopulmonary fitness, and mental health. RESULTS: The expected number of 142 patients was enroled in the study (mean age 17.4 ± 3.4 years, 52% female). Patients assigned to the intervention had a significant positive change in HRQoL total score [mean difference 3.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2; 7.3; P = .038; effect size 0.34], body mass index [mean difference -0.7 kg/m2 (95% CI -1.3; -0.1); P = .022; effect size 0.41], level of physical activity [mean difference 2.5 (95% CI 0.1; 5); P = .044; effect size 0.39], and disease knowledge [mean difference 2.7 (95% CI 0.8; 4.6); P = .007; effect size 0.51]. The per-protocol analysis confirmed these results with a higher magnitude of differences. Acceptability, safety, and short-time effect of the intervention were good to excellent. CONCLUSIONS: This early hybrid cardiac rehabilitation programme improved HRQoL, body mass index, physical activity, and disease knowledge, in youth with CHD, opening up the possibility for the QUALIREHAB programme to be rolled out to the adult population of CHD and non-congenital cardiac disease.

Cardiovascular events in perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left ventricular volume overload: a French prospective cohort study (FRANCISCO).

The long-term prospective multi-centre nationwide (French) observational study FRANCISCO will provide new information on perimembranous ventricular septal defect with left ventricular overload but no pulmonary hypertension in children older than 1 year. Outcomes will be compared according to treatment strategy (watchful waiting, surgical closure, or percutaneous closure) and anatomic features of the defect. The results are expected to provide additional guidance about the optimal treatment of this specific population, which is unclear at present. BACKGROUND: The management of paediatric isolated perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) with left ventricle (LV) volume overload but no pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains controversial. Three therapeutic approaches are considered: watchful waiting, surgical closure, and percutaneous closure. We aim to investigate the long-term outcomes of these patients according to anatomic pmVSD characteristics and treatment strategy. METHODS: The Filiale de Cardiologie Pediatrique et Congénitale (FCPC) designed the FRANCISCO registry, a long-term prospective nationwide multi-centre observational cohort study sponsored by the French Society of Cardiology, which enrolled, over 2 years (2018­2020), patients older than 1 year who had isolated pmVSD with LV volume overload. Prevalent complications related to pmVSD at baseline were exclusion criteria. Clinical, echocardiographic, and functional data will be collected at inclusion then after 1, 5, and 10 years. A core lab will analyse all baseline echocardiographic data to depict anatomical pmVSD features. The primary outcome is the 5-year incidence of cardiovascular events (infective endocarditis, sub-aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, right ventricular outflow tract stenosis, tricuspid regurgitation, PAH, arrhythmia, stroke, haemolysis, heart failure, or death from a cardiovascular event). We plan to enrol 200 patients, given the 10% estimated 5-year incidence of cardiovascular events with a 95% confidence interval of ±5%. Associations linking anatomical pmVSD features and treatment strategy to the incidence of complications will be assessed. CONCLUSIONS: The FRANSCICO study will provide the long-term incidence of complications in patients older than 1 year with pmVSD and LV volume overload. The results are expected to improve guidance for treatment decisions.

Prenatal diagnosis of anomalous connection of the inferior caval vein to the left atrium associated with common arterial trunk.

Anomalous connection of the inferior caval vein to the left atrium is exceedingly rare, and has even been considered by some authors an anatomic and embryologic impossibility. This study demonstrates for the first time the existence of this rare malformation, diagnosed on prenatal echo, and confirmed on post-mortem examination in a 24 WG fetus, in association with a common arterial trunk.

Impact of a centre and home-based cardiac rehabilitation program on the quality of life of teenagers and young adults with congenital heart disease: The QUALI-REHAB study rationale, design and methods.

BACKGROUND: Advances in congenital heart disease (CHD) have transferred the mortality from childhood to adulthood. Exercise capacity in young patients with CHD remains lower than in the general population, resulting in deconditioning and impaired quality of life. Evidence based-medicine in cardiac rehabilitation in this age group with CHD remains limited. We present the QUALI-REHAB study rationale, design and methods. METHODS: The QUALI-REHAB trial is a nationwide, multicentre, randomised, controlled study, aiming to assess the impact of a combined centre and home-based cardiac rehabilitation program on the quality of life of adolescents and young adults (13 to 25 years old) with CHD. Patients with a maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) < 80% and/or a ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) < 55% of predicted VO2max, will be eligible. Patients will be randomised into 2 groups (12-week cardiac rehabilitation program vs. controls). The primary outcome is the change in the PedsQL quality of life score between baseline and 12-month follow-up. A total of 130 patients are required to observe a significant increase of 7 ±â€¯13.5 points in the PedsQL, with a power of 80% and an alpha risk of 5%. The secondary outcomes are: VO2max, VAT, stroke volume, clinical outcomes, physical and psychological status, safety and acceptability. CONCLUSION: After focusing on the survival in CHD, current research is opening on secondary prevention and patient-related outcomes. The QUALI-REHAB trial intends to assess if a combined centre and home-based rehabilitation program, could improve the quality of life and the exercise capacity in youth with CHD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03690518).

Fetal diagnosis of right cardiac ventricular aneurysms: A report of three cases.

Congenital ventricular aneurysms and diverticula are rare congenital heart diseases, currently accessible to prenatal diagnosis. Information on the natural course of ventricular aneurysm or diverticulum detected during fetal life is limited as there are only few case reports and case series enumerating the defect. We aimed to describe through three cases, the prenatal features and clinical outcomes of fetal cardiac aneurysms. The first one was diagnosed during the second trimester and spontaneous evolution was favorable. The two others were diagnosed in the first trimester with a large and early pericardial effusion. For one, the parents opted for termination of pregnancy at 15 weeks of gestation and the other showed a spontaneous regression of the effusion and no hemodynamic compromise.

[A senate report in favour of an emergency nursing speciality]. / Un rapport sénatorial en faveur d'une spécialité d'infirmier urgentiste.

In July 2017, an information report written by three senators highlighted the difficulties encountered by emergency departments in France and attempted to pinpoint the causes. In addition, the recommendations of this report suggest reinforcing the nursing contribution within the multi-disciplinary emergency department team, by creating an emergency nurse speciality.

Building the pipeline: programs to introduce middle school, high school, medical, and veterinary students to careers in epidemiology and public health.

PURPOSE: This report describes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention programs that expose students to epidemiology and public health sciences (EPHS). METHODS: The Science Ambassador workshop targets middle and high school teachers and promotes teaching EPHS in the classroom. The National Science Olympiad Disease Detectives event is an extracurricular science competition for middle and high school students based on investigations of outbreaks and other public health problems. The Epidemiology Elective Program provides experiential learning activities for veterinary and medical students. RESULTS: As of 2016, 234 teachers from 37 states and territories and three other countries participated in SA workshops. Several are teaching units or entire courses in EPHS. The National Science Olympiad Disease Detectives event exposed approximately 15,000 middle and high school students to EPHS during the 2015-2016 school year. The Epidemiology Elective Program has exposed 1,795 veterinary and medical students to EPHS. CONCLUSIONS: Students can master fundamental concepts of EPHS as early as middle school and educators are finding ways to introduce this material into their classrooms. Programs to introduce veterinary and medical students to EPHS can help fill the gap in exposing older students to the field. Professional organizations can assist by making their members aware of these programs.

Aberrant drainage of the umbilical vein into the coronary sinus without ductus venosus agenesis.

We describe a case series of 4 fetuses with ectopic connections of the ductus venosus to the coronary sinus detected prospectively between August 2011 and February 2012 in 2 congenital cardiologic centers. An enlarged coronary sinus alerted the sonographer. Fetal echocardiography showed ectopic connection of the ductus venosus in an enlarged coronary sinus in all 4 cases. To our knowledge, this anatomic form of ectopic umbilical vein drainage has not previously been reported. The infants were doing well. This venous variant should be considered in cases of isolated coronary sinus dilatation after elimination of a left superior vena cava and a totally anomalous pulmonary vein connection.

Elective medical and veterinary student rotations in applied epidemiology at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1975-2012.

CONTEXT: Health professionals who can bridge the gap between public health and clinical medicine are needed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epidemiology Elective Program (EEP) offers a rotation in public health for medical and veterinary students that provides an introduction to public health, preventive medicine, and the principles of applied epidemiology through real-world, hands-on experiential learning. OBJECTIVE: To describe EEP, including its role in the integration of medicine and public health, and career paths for those who subsequently have enrolled in the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS). DESIGN: A review of files of EEP students participating June 1975 to May 2012 and EIS files to determine which EEP participants subsequently enrolled in EIS and their current employment. RESULTS: During January 1975 to May 2012, a total of 1548 students participated in EEP. Six hundred thirty-eight (41.2%) EEP students participated in field-based epidemic-assistance investigations. Among 187 students completing an exit survey implemented during 2007, a total of 175 (93.6%) indicated an increased understanding or competence in applied epidemiology and public health, and 98 (52.4%) indicated that they would apply to EIS. Among the 165 (10.7%) who enrolled in and completed EIS by July 2012, 106 (64.2%) are currently employed in public health and 65 (39.4%) are board-certified in preventive medicine, board eligible, or currently enrolled in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Preventive Medicine Residency or Fellowship. CONCLUSIONS: The CDC Epidemiology Elective Program offers opportunities for medical and veterinary students to participate in real-world public health learning activities. The Epidemiology Elective Program provides increased understanding and competence in applied epidemiology, provides students with opportunities to learn about population health and health care problems and the tools to help them bridge the gap between clinical medicine and public health, and serves as a source for EIS and other public health-related training and careers.

[Ischemic cholangiopathy induced by extended burns]. / Cholangiopathie ischémique secondaire à des brûlures étendues.

Ischemic cholangiopathy is a recently described entity occurring mainly after hepatic grafts. Very few cases after intensive care unit (ICU) for extended burn injury were reported. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman consulting in an hepatology unit, for a jaundice appearing during a hospitalisation in an intensive care unit and increasing from her leaving from ICU, where she was treated for an extended burn injury. She had no pre-existing biological features of biliary disease. Biological tests were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging acquisitions of biliary tracts pointed out severe stenosing lesions of diffuse cholangiopathy concerning intrahepatic biliary tract, mainly peri-hilar. Biopsie from the liver confirmed the diagnosis, showing a biliary cirrhosis with bile infarcts. This case is the fourth case of ischemic cholangiopathy after extended burn injury, concerning a patient without a prior history of hepatic or biliary illness and appearing after hospitalisation in intensive care unit.

Hybrid access to atria via the Guiraudon Universal Cardiac Introducer for arrhythmia ablation after total cavopulmonary derivation.

We report the first use of a new platform, the Guiraudon Universal Cardiac Introducer (GUCI), in humans for accessing the left atrium for catheter-based ablations in patients with resistant atrial arrhythmias after total cavopulmonary derivation. The GUCI was originally designed for intracardiac access for closed, beating instrumental intracardiac surgery.The patient was a 29-year-old man with problematic atrial arrhythmias resistant to antiarrhythmic drugs because of severe uncontrolled bradycardia and because his pacemaker was explanted for infection.The GUCI was attached to the left atrial appendage via an anterior left thoracotomy. The GUCI was modified to accommodate introduction and manipulation of multiple catheters. This allowed electrophysiologists to perform catheter-based exploration and ablation. A DDD pacemaker was implanted, with an atrial endocardial lead introduced via the GUCI cuff and a ventricular epicardial lead.Postoperative atrial arrhythmias were controlled using amiodarone and atrial pacing. At the 12-month follow-up, the patient was arrhythmia- and drug-free and returned to full employment.This new access offers an additional new alternative atrial access to treat resistant arrhythmia after total cavopulmonary derivation. The current state-of-the-art makes patient selection difficult and uncomfortable for the surgeons because of incomplete preoperative electrophysiological data, such as a return to the beginning of surgery for arrhythmia; however, more cumulative experience with intraoperative electrophysiological data and new mapping technologies should address these limitations.

Long-term results of the REV (réparation à l'ètage ventriculaire) operation.

OBJECTIVE: Despite its innovative features, the réparation à l'ètage ventriculaire (REV) procedure has not gained large popularity in the treatment of transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, and related anomalies, and thus the Rastelli operation remains the preferred type of repair. We try to obviate the alleged lack of long-term results that has been suggested to explain this reluctance to change. METHODS: We reviewed a series of 205 patients who underwent the REV procedure between 1980 and 2003. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 12% (24 patients). Ten of 181 early survivors residing in distant countries could not be traced for follow-up. There were 13 late deaths (2 of noncardiac causes). Overall survival and freedom from any reoperation at 25 years were 85% and 45%, respectively, as determined by using the Kaplan-Meier method. Reoperation was commonly required because of recurrent right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (36 patients) and rarely by left ventricular outflow tract stenosis (3 patients). By using cumulative method analysis, at the 25-year follow-up interval, the probability of being alive without reoperation was 45%, that of reoperation for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction was 33%, and that of reoperation for left ventricular outflow tract obstruction was 5%. Clinical status is excellent: 137 patients are in New York Heart Association class I (87%), and 131 patients are free of arrhythmias. CONCLUSIONS: These results represent a considerable improvement over those of the Rastelli operation in terms of survival and need for reoperation for right or left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

A new presentation of neonatal lupus: 5 cases of isolated mild endocardial fibroelastosis associated with maternal Anti-SSA/Ro and Anti-SSB/La antibodies.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal anti-SSA/Ro or anti-SSB/La antibodies are associated with neonatal lupus erythematosus syndrome (NLES), especially congenital heart block (CHB), which may be associated with severe endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A few reports have described severe EFE without CHB associated with anti-SSA/Ro antibodies, with a poor prognosis. EFE has also been observed in biopsies of DCM that had been considered idiopathic. These points, considered in association with 5 unusual cases of mild EFE, led us to consider the relationship between underrecognized cases of isolated autoantibody-associated EFE and DCM that had been considered idiopathic. METHODS: We analyzed 5 cases of EFE diagnosed in utero (n = 4) or after birth (n = 1). In 3 cases, maternal antibody status was discovered because of the EFE diagnosis. RESULTS: Endomyocardial hyperechogenicity predominated in the left atrium (n = 3) and mitral annulus (n = 3). No left-heart dysfunction was observed. Two mothers were treated with betamethasone. One mother chose to have a therapeutic abortion, and EFE was confirmed at autopsy. Electrocardiograms at birth (n = 4) did not show CHB. Other manifestations of NLES were present in all cases. One child had right ventricular hypoplasia and underwent a partial cavopulmonary anastomosis. At last followup (4-7 yrs), the other 3 children had normal heart function, and echocardiography showed a normal heart (n = 2) or mild persistent EFE (n = 1). CONCLUSION: Middle-term prognosis of isolated autoantibody-associated EFE may be better than previously reported, although the longterm prognosis remains unknown. We hypothesize that a fetal insult can lead to DCM.

Medical education for a healthier population: reflections on the Flexner Report from a public health perspective.

Abraham Flexner's 1910 report is credited with promoting critical reforms in medical education. Because Flexner advocated scientific rigor and standardization in medical education, his report has been perceived to place little emphasis on the importance of public health in clinical education and training. However, a review of the report reveals that Flexner presciently identified at least three public-health-oriented principles that contributed to his arguments for medical education reform: (1) The training, quality, and quantity of physicians should meet the health needs of the public, (2) physicians have societal obligations to prevent disease and promote health, and medical training should include the breadth of knowledge necessary to meet these obligations, and (3) collaborations between the academic medicine and public health communities result in benefits to both parties. In this article, commemorating the Flexner Centenary, the authors review the progress of U.S. and Canadian medical schools in addressing these principles in the context of contemporary societal health needs, provide an update on recent efforts to address what has long been perceived as a deficit in medical education (inadequate grounding of medical students in public health), and provide new recommendations on how to create important linkages between medical education and public health. Contemporary health challenges that require a public health approach in addition to one-on-one clinical skills include containing epidemics of preventable chronic diseases, reforming the health care system to provide equitable high-quality care to populations, and responding to potential disasters in an increasingly interconnected world. The quantitative skills and contextual knowledge that will prepare physicians to address these and other population health problems constitute the basics of public health and should be included throughout the continuum of medical education.

Comparison of clinical presentations and outcomes between patients with TGFBR2 and FBN1 mutations in Marfan syndrome and related disorders.

BACKGROUND: TGFBR2 mutations were recognized recently among patients with a Marfan-like phenotype. The associated clinical and prognostic spectra remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical features and outcomes of 71 patients with a TGFBR2 mutation (TGFBR2 group) were compared with 50 age- and sex-matched unaffected family members (control subjects) and 243 patients harboring FBN1 mutations (FBN1 group). Aortic dilatation was present in a similar proportion of patients in both the TGFBR2 and FBN1 groups (78% versus 79%, respectively) but was highly variable. The incidence and average age for thoracic aortic surgery (31% versus 27% and 35+/-16 versus 39+/-13 years, respectively) and aortic dissection (14% versus 10% and 38+/-12 versus 39+/-9 years) were also similar in the 2 groups. Mitral valve involvement (myxomatous, prolapse, mitral regurgitation) was less frequent in the TGFBR2 than in the FBN1 group (all P<0.05). Aortic dilatation, dissection, or sudden death was the index event leading to genetic diagnosis in 65% of families with TGFBR2 mutations, versus 32% with FBN1 mutations (P=0.002). The rate of death was greater in TGFBR2 families before diagnosis but similar once the disease had been recognized. Most pregnancies were uneventful (without death or aortic dissection) in both TGFBR2 and FBN1 families (38 of 39 versus 213 of 217; P=1). Seven patients (10%) with a TGFBR2 mutation fulfilled international criteria for Marfan syndrome, 3 of whom presented with features specific for Loeys-Dietz syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes appear similar between treated patients with TGFBR2 mutations and individuals with FBN1 mutations. Prognosis depends on clinical disease expression and treatment rather than simply the presence of a TGFBR2 gene mutation.

Surgery for malposition of the great arteries: the REV procedure.

The REV procedure was introduced in 1980 to treat transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and pulmonary stenosis and malpositions similar to transposition of the great arteries (TGA). It aims at overcoming the drawbacks and limitations of the classic Rastelli operation, such as subaortic stenosis, late ventricular deterioration, arrhythmias and sudden death. In particular, the resection of the infundibular septum allows for the placement of a straighter, smaller ventricular patch, bulging much less in the right ventricular cavity. The extensive mobilization of the main pulmonary branches permits a direct connection with the right ventricular incision, thus avoiding the need for an extracardiac conduit. The procedure was performed in 205 patients as of December 2003 with 12% hospital mortality. Patients for whom the Rastelli operation would have been contraindicated, were accepted for REV repair. Late results show a clear improvement over those reported with the Rastelli operation in terms of overall survival (85% at 25-year follow-up interval) and prevalence of reoperation for right ventricular obstruction. Obstruction of the left ventricle-to-aorta tunnel is exceedingly rare. This operation should be considered the gold standard when new surgical options are considered for this complex form of transpositions/malpositions of the great arteries.

Barriers to occupational and environmental medicine services in the southeastern United States.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether low-income and minority populations in the Southeast face barriers to access to occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) services. METHODS: Access to OEM services was defined as the presence of an OEM physician in a county or the proximity of a clinic in the Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics network to a county. RESULTS: Counties with higher percentages of low-income, all non-white minority, and African-American populations in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi were more likely to be farther away from an AOEC clinic. Counties with higher percentages of low-income populations were less likely to have an OEM physician. However, the percentages of minority and African-American populations in these counties were not associated with the presence of an OEM physician. CONCLUSION: Both low-income and minority populations in the Southeast face barriers to OEM services.

Anti-SSA/Ro antibodies and the heart: more than complete congenital heart block? A review of electrocardiographic and myocardial abnormalities and of treatment options.

Apart from complete and incomplete congenital heart block (CHB), new cardiac manifestations related to anti-SSA/Ro antibodies have been reported in children born to mothers bearing these antibodies. These manifestations include transient fetal first-degree heart block, prolongation of corrected QT (QTc) interval, sinus bradycardia, late-onset cardiomyopathy, endocardial fibroelastosis and cardiac malformations. Anti-SSA/Ro antibodies are not considered pathogenic to the adult heart, but a prolongation of the QTc interval has recently been reported in adult patients and is still a matter of debate. Treatment of CHB is not well established and needs to be assessed carefully. The risks and benefits of prenatal fluorinated steroids are discussed.