Comparison of Levosimendan Versus Milrinone After the Arterial Switch Operation for Infants ≤3†kg.

Background: Various inotropes and inodilators have been utilized to treat low cardiac output syndrome after the arterial switch operation. The use of levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer has been limited in this setting. This study compares the effects of levosimendan with milrinone in managing low cardiac output after the arterial switch operation. Methods: A retrospective, comparative study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital on patients weighing up to 3 kg undergoing the arterial switch operation between January 2017 and January 2022. Patients received a loading dose followed by continuous infusion of either levosimendan or milrinone. Echocardiographic, hemodynamic and biochemical parameters were compared. Results: Forty-three patients received levosimendan and 42 patients received milrinone as the primary test drug. Cardiac index of less than 2.2 L/min/m2 on postoperative day 1 and 2 was found in 9.3% and 2.3% of patients receiving levosimendan versus 26.2% and 11.9% in those receiving milrinone, respectively (P = .04 and .08, respectively). Early lactate-clearance and better central venous oxygen saturations were noted in the levosimendan group. Prevalence of acute kidney injury was higher in the milrinone group (50% vs 28%; P = .03). Use of peritoneal dialysis in the milrinone group versus levosimendan was 31% and 16.3%, respectively (P = .11). There was no difference in hospital mortality between the groups (milrinone, 3; levosimendan, 2, P = .62). Conclusions: Levosimendan is safe and as effective as milrinone to treat low cardiac output syndrome occurring in neonates after the arterial switch operation. In addition we found that levosimendan was renal protective when compared with milrinone.

Pediatric cardiology in India - In search of a holistic solution.

In response to the survey among early career pediatric cardiologists from India and the accompanying editorial, we invited comments and suggestions from thought leaders and senior functionaries in the field. We have summarized the thoughts and suggestions as a mini-symposium.

Clarifying the anatomy of the superior sinus venosus defect.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to clarify the variations in the anatomy of the superior cavoatrial junction and anomalously connected pulmonary veins in patients with superior sinus venosus defects using computed tomographic (CT) angiography. METHODS: CT angiograms of 96 consecutive patients known to have superior sinus venosus defects were analysed. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 34.5 years. In seven (7%) patients, the defect showed significant caudal extension, having a supero-inferior dimension greater than 25 mm. All patients had anomalous connection of the right superior pulmonary vein. The right middle and right inferior pulmonary vein were also connected anomalously in 88 (92%) and 17 (18%) patients, respectively. Anomalous connection of the right inferior pulmonary vein was more common in those with significant caudal extension of the defect (57% vs 15%, p=0.005). Among anomalously connected pulmonary veins, the right superior, middle, and inferior pulmonary veins were committed to the left atrium in 6, 17, and 11 patients, respectively. The superior caval vein over-rode the interatrial septum in 67 (70%) patients, with greater than 50% over-ride in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Anomalous connection of the right-sided pulmonary veins is universal, but is not limited to the right upper lobe. Not all individuals have over-riding of superior caval vein. In a minority of patients, the defect has significant caudal extension, and anomalously connected pulmonary veins are committed to the left atrium. These findings have significant clinical and therapeutic implications.

Atrial septoplasty through internal jugular venous access in an infant with transposition of great arteries: technical challenges and solutions.

We describe a 3-month-old infant with transposition of great arteries and restrictive foramen ovale who presented with severe cyanosis. Child had a large thrombus causing near-total occlusion of the inferior caval vein. An emergency atrial septoplasty was performed via internal jugular venous access. The case emphasises the technical challenges faced while performing this procedure through jugular approach and plausible solutions to overcome these challenges.

Vascular neoplasia masquerading as cellulitis and persistent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion.

Tufted angioma and kaposiform hemangioendothelioma are considered to represent two ends of the spectrum of benign vascular neoplasms that predominantly present during infancy or early childhood. We report a rare case of a 5-month-old infant with complicated vascular neoplasm involving the pericardial cavity and skin over cervical region, masquerading as infective pericarditis with cellulitis. The patient responded dramatically to therapy with oral prednisolone and sirolimus, with a significant reduction of size of skin lesions and complete resolution of pericardial effusion over 8 weeks. The report also highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary team in managing such complicated cases.

Heart Failure in a Child: Multimodality Approach Leading to an Unusual Cause.

Heart failure secondary to isolated pulmonary artery vasculitis is rarely described in children. We describe a 10-year-old child who presented with right heart failure symptoms, severe pulmonary hypertension, and bilateral branch pulmonary artery stenosis secondary to isolated pulmonary artery vasculitis. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Prenatal Pericardiocentesis and Postnatal Sirolimus for a Giant Inoperable Cardiac Rhabdomyoma.

We describe the case of an antenatally diagnosed massive cardiac tumor in a fetus requiring cardiorespiratory support immediately following birth. We further discuss the successful management of this case and highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary team in managing such complicated cases. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).

Dextroversion due to giant left atrium in a child.

Giant left atrium is extremely rare in pediatric population. We hereby report a case of 4-year-old child with giant left atrium (LA) due to "non-rheumatic" mitral regurgitation (MR). The giant LA caused dextro-rotation of the heart, which immediately reverted to normal cardiac position after surgical repair. The case is reported for the unusual manifestation of giant LA as dextroversion.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of health care professionals on laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is currently a global public health concern. Thorough knowledge of diagnostics of COVID-19 amongst health care professionals (HCPs) is critical for timely and accurate diagnosis. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice among HCPs related to the laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on KAPs regarding COVID-19 laboratory diagnosis. Knowledge and practice scores were calculated and categorized based on the number of correct responses. Predictors of knowledge and practice scores were identified by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In all, 347 HCPs participated. Most participants had an average knowledge score and suboptimal practice score. Independent predictors of getting an average knowledge score were being indirectly involved in laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 (odds ratio, OR: 2.591; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.106-6.070), and having a government website as a major source of information (OR: 6.184; 95% CI: 1.185-32.286). Of all, 66.3% thought that testing rate for COVID-19 detection in India is unsatisfactory and 67.2% feared getting infected at work due to delays in test results. Most participants (90.5%) felt that more training programs related to laboratory diagnosis are needed. Practice scores significantly differed among HCPs of opposite sexes, different professions, and different information sources. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the need for planning constructive strategies to improve KAP among HCPs related to the laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19. Timely dissemination of correct information to HCPs by the health authorities is critical to win this battle against COVID-19.

A rare pediatric case of bilateral bronchopulmonary vascular malformations and right isomerism.

We present an unusual case of an 18-day-old term neonate with coexistent bilateral bronchopulmonary vascular malformations and right isomerism. This case highlights the importance of computed tomography angiography in depicting such complex anomalies and classifying them according to components involved providing a systematic approach for evaluation of the disease process.

Is left ventricular superior to right ventricular pacing in children with congenital or postoperative complete heart block?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'Is left ventricular superior to right ventricular pacing in children with congenital or postoperative complete heart block?' Altogether, 19 papers were found using the reported search, of which 9 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. Two large multicentric showed that site of pacing was the major determinant of left ventricular (LV) function with LV pacing being superior to RV pacing, though the number of patients paced via LV was lesser in comparison to right ventricular (RV). There were 2 prospective, 2 retrospective and 1 cross-sectional studies with fewer patients that demonstrated superiority of LV over RV pacing in preserving LV function. Only 1 small-scale retrospective study showed similar results of LV and RV pacing on LV function. One cross-sectional study showed superiority of LV apical pacing on exercise tolerance. As per the existing literature, LV apex seems to be the most optimal site for epicardial pacing while RV free wall pacing has the highest risk of causing LV dysfunction over the long term. We conclude that LV pacing appears to be superior to RV pacing in terms of long-term effect on cardiac function and ventricular synchrony.

Infective endocarditis-induced complete closure of a ventricular septal defect and complete heart block in a child.

We hereby report rare occurrence of irreversible complete heart block in a child with tricuspid valve infective endocarditis. The tricuspid valve vegetation also caused complete closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect, which was later discovered during surgery.

Supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with cor triatriatum sinister: A rare diagnosis confirmed by saline contrast echocardiography.

In cor triatriatum sinister, the left atrium is divided by a membrane into a proximal and a distal chamber. Usually proximal chamber receives all the pulmonary veins and drains through an opening in the dividing membrane into distal chamber, which empties into left ventricle through the mitral valve. Rarely, the two chambers lack a communication and there is associated total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). We report a 1-month-old infant with cyanosis and heart failure, who had cor triatriatum sinister associated with supracardiac TAPVC. The case is reported for rarity of the association with a focus on contrast echocardiographic imaging.

An unusual cause of changing QRS morphology.

A 7-day old term neonate with D-malposition of great arteries, large perimembranous ventricular septal defect (almost single ventricle), without pulmonary stenosis was admitted with cyanosis and congestive heart failure. ECG revealed supraventricular tachycardia with alternating QRS axis with every beat. We discuss our approach to this scenario, which leads us to a rather rare cause of changing QRS morphology.

Long QT syndrome with AV Wenckebaching & bundle branch block in a neonate.

We present a case of 21-day-old neonate brought with history of 3 episodes of syncope. Evaluation revealed congenital long QT syndrome associated with long cycle atypical AV Wenkebaching with a long short cycle sequence related left bundle branch aberrancy. Syncope was attributed to multiple episodes of Torsades de Pointes, necessitating emergency epicardial pacemaker implantation. In addition, child was started on oral propranolol therapy. On 2 months follow up, child was stable with no ventricular high rate episodes during pacemaker interrogation.

"Treat and repair" strategy for shunt lesions: a critical review.

The issue of operability in patients with shunt lesions and raised pulmonary vascular resistance is contentious. Several reports suggest that patients traditionally considered inoperable may be operated after treatment with targeted drug therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension. We reviewed all the published literature of "treat and repair" approach to gain more insights into the utility of this approach. A critical appraisal of the published literature suggests that this approach is less established for patients with post tricuspid shunts, and for patients with pre-tricuspid shunts with modestly elevated indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (possibly greater than 11 WU.m2). Targeted drug therapy may be able to extend the therapeutic window in carefully selected patients, but its use as a routine in this setting seems unwarranted.